Pristipomoides auricilla
A deepwater snapper with a gold tail and yellow spots.
The goldflag jobfish, also called the yellow flower snapper, is a member of the snapper family Lutjanidae. This ray-finned fish lives across the Indo-Pacific.
David Starr Jordan, Barton Warren Evermann, and Shigeho Tanaka first scientifically described it in 1927, using a specimen from Honolulu. Its species name *auricilla* means "gold tail," pointing to the yellow upper lobe of its tail fin.
The body is long but sturdy, with a flattened area between the eyes. The upper and lower jaws are about the same length, though the lower one sometimes sticks out a little. Each jaw has an outer row of cone-shaped and canine teeth, plus an inner band of bristle-like teeth. A triangular patch of teeth sits on the vomer bone, but none appear on the tongue. The tail fin is forked. The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 11 soft rays, while the anal fin has 3 spines and 8 soft rays; the last ray on each of these fins extends into a filament. The long pectoral fins reach as far as the anus. Body color ranges from purple to brownish purple, covered with many yellow spots and distinct yellow chevrons. The upper tail lobe is yellow, and the dorsal fin is yellowish. Maximum total length is 45 cm (18 in), though 25 cm (9.8 in) is more common.
This species has a wide Indo-Pacific range, from the Comoros Islands east to Hawaii, south to Australia and New Caledonia, and north to Japan.
It lives between 80 and 360 meters (260–1,180 ft) deep, over rocky reefs and rock substrates. A predator, it feeds on other fish, tunicates, and salps.
People catch it with deep handlines. In places like the Marianas, heavy fishing pressure occurs. It is sold fresh.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Pristipomoides auricilla
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Pristipomoides auricilla was first formally described in 1927 by David Starr Jordan, Barton Warren Evermann and Shigeho Tanaka, with the type locality given as Honolulu. The specific name auricilla means 'gold tail', a reference to the yellow upper caudal fin lobe. The body is elongated but robust, with a flattened space between the eyes and jaws that are roughly equal in length, though the lower may protrude slightly. Each jaw has an outer row of conical and canine teeth and an inner band of bristle-like teeth, along with a triangular patch of vomerine teeth but no teeth on the tongue. The caudal fin is forked, and the final ray of the dorsal and anal fins is extended into a filament. The long pectoral fins reach the anus. The overall body color is purple to brownish purple marked with many yellow spots and distinct yellow chevrons; the upper lobe of the caudal fin is yellow and the dorsal fin is yellowish.
Reader's Guide
Pristipomoides auricilla has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution, ranging from the Comoros Islands east to Hawaii, south to Australia and New Caledonia, and north to Japan. It inhabits depths between 80 and 360 meters over rock reefs and rock substrates. As a predatory species, it feeds on other fishes, tunicates, and salps. The species is fished using deep handlines, and in areas such as the Marianas it is subjected to heavy fishing pressure. It is sold fresh. Its distinctive coloration and the yellow upper caudal fin lobe make it easily recognizable among snappers, and its occurrence across a broad geographic range contributes to its significance in both artisanal and commercial deepwater fisheries.
Did You Know?
- The specific name auricilla means 'gold tail', referring to the yellow upper caudal fin lobe.
- It was first described in 1927 with the type locality given as Honolulu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pristipomoides auricilla?
Pristipomoides auricilla is a deepwater snapper in the family Lutjanidae, commonly called the goldflag jobfish or yellow flower snapper. It is a ray-finned fish native to the Indo-Pacific region, living well below the shallow reef zone.
What does Pristipomoides auricilla look like?
It has a long, sturdy body with a noticeably flattened area between the eyes and jaws of roughly equal length. Its most eye-catching trait is the bright yellow upper lobe of the tail fin, complemented by scattered yellow spots along the body.
How big does Pristipomoides auricilla get?
Most individuals measure around 25 cm (about 10 inches) in total length, which is the typical size you would encounter. The species can reach a maximum of roughly 45 cm (18 inches) under ideal conditions.
Who first described Pristipomoides auricilla and where did the type specimen come from?
David Starr Jordan, Barton Warren Evermann, and Shigeho Tanaka published the original scientific description in 1927, working from a specimen collected in Honolulu. The species epithet 'auricilla' simply means 'gold tail,' a nod to the yellow coloration on the upper caudal lobe.
At what depth does Pristipomoides auricilla live?
This is a genuinely deepwater species, typically found between 80 and 360 meters (roughly 260 to 1,180 feet) below the surface. It is not a shallow-reef fish, so you will not encounter it in typical snorkeling or recreational diving ranges.
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