Pristipomoides sieboldii
A snapper with a lavender tint, found across the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
The lavender jobfish, also called the lavender snapper or von Siebold's snapper, is a ray-finned fish in the snapper family Lutjanidae. It lives across a broad area of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
This species was first scientifically described in 1871 by the Dutch scientist Pieter Bleeker, who named it *Chaetopterus sieboldii* based on a specimen from Nagasaki. The name likely honors German physician and traveler Philipp Franz von Siebold, who collected many fish specimens later described in the *Fauna Japonica* series.
The fish has an elongated, sturdy body, with a depth roughly 30–40% of its standard length. Its eyes are set apart by a flat space, and its lower jaw sticks out slightly. Both jaws have an outer row of conical and canine-like teeth, plus an inner band of bristle-like teeth. A diamond-shaped patch of teeth sits on the vomer, and teeth also appear on the tongue. The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 11 soft rays; the anal fin has 3 spines and 8 soft rays. Neither fin has scales at its base, and the last soft ray of each extends into a short filament. The long pectoral fins reach the anus and contain 16 rays. The caudal fin is forked. Overall, the fish is silvery with a lavender tint, and the top of the head has dark spots that are more noticeable in younger individuals. The dorsal fin has an orange margin, while the caudal fin is purplish with pale edges on the fork. It can reach a maximum total length of 79 cm (31 in), though 40 cm (16 in) is more typical, and a maximum published weight of 8.6 kg (19 lb).
A benthopelagic predator, it lives over rocky substrates at depths from 140 to 500 m (460 to 1,640 ft). Its diet consists mainly of fishes, crustaceans, polychaetes, cephalopods, and urochordates. The fish reaches sexual maturity at three years old and has a lifespan of no more than eight years.
In Japan, the lavender jobfish is a common food fish. It is also important to fisheries in Hawaii—where it is managed as part of the Deep 7 bottomfish hook and line fishery—and in the Great Barrier Reef/Torres Strait fishery in Australia. It is caught with bottom longlines and deep handlines, and the catch is sold fresh.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Pristipomoides sieboldii
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The species was first formally described in 1871 as Chaetopterus sieboldii by Dutch ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker, with the type locality given as Nagasaki. Bleeker did not specify who he was honouring in the specific name, but it is thought likely to have been German physician and traveller Philipp Franz von Siebold, who collected many fish specimens later described in the Fauna Japonica monograph series.
Pristipomoides sieboldii has an elongated, robust body with a depth of roughly 30–40% of its standard length. It has a flat space between the eyes and a slightly protruding lower jaw. The overall colour is silvery with a lavender tint, and the top of the head is marked with dark spots that are more noticeable in younger fish. The dorsal fin has an orange margin, and the caudal fin is purplish with pale margins on the fork.
This benthopelagic species is found over rocky substrates at depths between 140 and 500 m. It is a predatory species with a diet consisting largely of fishes, crustaceans, polychaetes, cephalopods, and urochordates. It attains sexual maturity at 3 years old and has a lifespan of not more than 8 years.
Reader's Guide
Pristipomoides sieboldii is common as a food fish in Japan and is an important species to fisheries in Hawaii and in the Great Barrier Reef/Torres Strait fishery in Australia. In Hawaii, it is managed as part of the Deep 7 bottomfish hook and line fishery unit. It is taken with bottom longlines and deep handlines, and the catch is sold fresh. The species' wide Indo-Pacific range extends from the Red Sea and East Africa as far south as South Africa, through the Indian Ocean into the Pacific Ocean, eastwards to Hawaii and north to Japan. Its maximum recorded size of 79 cm and weight of 8.6 kg make it a substantial catch. The taxonomic history, with its original description by Bleeker and the likely honouring of von Siebold, ties the species to early European natural history exploration in Japan. The species' distinctive lavender tint and orange-margined dorsal fin contribute to its recognition among snappers.
Did You Know?
- The species was first described in 1871 as Chaetopterus sieboldii by Pieter Bleeker, with the type locality given as Nagasaki.
- Its specific name likely honours German physician and traveller Philipp Franz von Siebold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pristipomoides sieboldii?
Pristipomoides sieboldii is a ray-finned fish in the snapper family Lutjanidae, widely known as the lavender jobfish or lavender snapper. It was first formally described in 1871 by Dutch ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker, who worked from a specimen collected off Nagasaki, Japan.
What are Pristipomoides sieboldii's powers/role?
This deep-water predator has an elongated, sturdy build and can reach a total length of 79 cm and a published weight of 8.6 kg. It patrols depths of 140 to 500 meters across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, where it preys on smaller fish and invertebrates.
Why is Pristipomoides sieboldii important?
Its name almost certainly commemorates Philipp Franz von Siebold, the German physician whose Japanese fish collections fed into the landmark Fauna Japonica series. Ecologically, as a mid-depth snapper spanning a huge Indo-Pacific range, it helps regulate prey populations in the 140–500 m zone.
Where does Pristipomoides sieboldii live and how big does it typically get?
You'll find this lavender-tinted snapper across a broad swath of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, usually well below the surface between 140 and 500 meters. Most adults hover around 40 cm in length, though the species can stretch to 79 cm at its maximum.
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