Etelis oculatus
The only Etelis snapper in the western Atlantic Ocean.
The queen snapper (Etelis oculatus), also called the night snapper or brim snapper, is a ray-finned fish belonging to the snapper family Lutjanidae. It lives in the western Atlantic Ocean and stands out as the only member of its genus found outside the Indo-Pacific region.
This fish has a long, slender, spindle-shaped body. Its eye area is flat, its eyes are large, and its snout is short, with the lower jaw sticking out slightly. The jaws contain bands of small conical teeth, with a row of larger, more widely spaced teeth on the outside, plus one or two pairs of canine teeth in front. The vomerine teeth form a V-shaped patch that can sometimes look very triangular. The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 11 soft rays, while the anal fin has 3 spines and 8 soft rays; the rearmost ray on each fin is the longest. Both the dorsal and anal fins lack scales. The tail fin is deeply forked, and its lobes get longer as the fish ages. The long, pointed pectoral fins have either 17 or 19 rays. Medium-sized scales cover the body, and the scale rows on the back run parallel to the lateral line. The largest recorded total length is 100 cm (39 in), though 67 cm (26 in) is more typical. Its back and upper sides are a reddish deep pink, fading toward the belly. The fins—except for the spiny part of the dorsal and the tail fin, which are bright red—are pink. Its large eyes are yellow with a red iris.
The queen snapper lives in the warmer waters of the western Atlantic. Its range stretches from North Carolina south along the U.S. Atlantic coast, through the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to South America as far as São Paulo, Brazil. It also appears at Bermuda and at Brazil’s Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Islands.
This species is bathydemersal, found at depths between 100 and 450 m (330 and 1,480 ft). Adults stay over rocky bottoms, feeding mainly on fish and squid. Juveniles live in mid-water and eat crustaceans. Spawning happens throughout most of the year, peaking near the end of the year; spring is when these fish are least reproductively active.
French zoologist Achille Valenciennes first formally described the queen snapper in 1828 as *Serranus oculatus*, with the type locality given as Martinique.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Etelis oculatus
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The queen snapper was first formally described in 1828 by the French zoologist Achille Valenciennes as Serranus oculatus, with the type locality given as Martinique. Its specific name oculatus means 'eyed', based on the local name gros-yeux ('bigeyes') on Martinique. The species has an elongated, fusiform, slender body with a flat intraorbital area, large eyes, and a short snout with a slightly protruding lower jaw. Its jaws contain bands of small conical teeth, with larger, more widely spaced teeth in the outer row and 1-2 pairs of canine teeth in the front. The vomerine teeth form a V-shaped patch, sometimes very triangular. The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 11 soft rays, the anal fin 3 spines and 8 soft rays, with the rearmost ray on each fin being the longest. Both dorsal and anal fins are scaleless. The caudal fin is deeply forked, with lobes that lengthen as the fish grows, and the long pointed pectoral fins have 19 or 17 rays. The body is covered with medium-sized scales, and the dorsal scale rows run parallel to the lateral line. The maximum recorded total length is 100 cm (39 in), though 67 cm (26 in) is more typical. The fish has a reddish deep pink back and upper flanks fading toward the abdomen, with fins other than the spiny part of the dorsal and the caudal fin being brilliant red; the large eyes are yellow with a red iris.
Reader's Guide
The queen snapper is a bathydemersal species found over rock substrates at depths between 100 and 450 m. Adults feed mainly on fish and squid, while juveniles are found in mid-water and feed on crustaceans. Spawning occurs through most of the year, peaking toward the end of the year, with spring being a period of low reproductive activity. The species is a quarry for commercial fisheries throughout its range, caught using hand lines, longlines, and traps. When brought to the surface, they suffer from irreversible barotrauma, meaning most cannot be returned. They are subjected to severe fishing pressure, and it is almost certain that some populations are declining. Juveniles are taken as by-catch by trawlers. The fish is regarded as an excellent food fish and is sold fresh and frozen. In waters off the southeastern United States, the queen snapper is managed by the South Atlantic Fish Management Council, which applies a minimum size of 30 cm total length and a catch limit of 10 snappers of any species for both commercial and recreational allowable catch limits. The Gulf of Mexico Fish Management Council includes this species within the 10 snapper per person aggregate limit in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, but does not set a minimum size limit or a season.
Did You Know?
- The queen snapper is the only species in the genus Etelis found outside the Indo-Pacific region.
- The caudal fin lobes lengthen as the fish grows.
- When brought to the surface, queen snappers suffer from irreversible barotrauma.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Etelis oculatus?
Etelis oculatus is a ray-finned fish in the snapper family (Lutjanidae), commonly known as the queen snapper, night snapper, or brim snapper. It is the only member of its genus that lives outside the Indo-Pacific, making it the sole Etelis snapper found in the western Atlantic Ocean.
What does Etelis oculatus look like?
This fish has a long, slender, spindle-shaped body with notably large eyes set in a flat eye area and a short snout where the lower jaw protrudes slightly. Its jaws carry bands of small conical teeth, a row of larger, more widely spaced outer teeth, and one or two pairs of canine teeth at the front.
Where does Etelis oculatus live and at what depth?
The queen snapper is found in the western Atlantic Ocean, typically inhabiting depths between 100 and 450 meters (roughly 330 to 1,480 feet). It is the only Etelis species that occurs in this region rather than the Indo-Pacific.
How big does Etelis oculatus grow?
A typical queen snapper reaches about 67 cm (26 in) in total length, though the species can grow up to a maximum of 100 cm (39 in). Its dorsal fin carries 10 spines and 11 soft rays, while the anal fin has 3 spines and 8 soft rays.
What makes Etelis oculatus stand out from other snappers?
Its genus name reflects its distinctive large eyes, and it is the only Etelis species found in the western Atlantic rather than the Indo-Pacific. The combination of its flat eye region, protruding lower jaw, and specific fin-ray counts (19 or 17 pectoral rays) helps distinguish it from look-alike snappers.
More in Snappers and Grunts, Part 2 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced