Gorean snapper

The Gorean snapper (Lutjanus goreensis) is a marine fish from the snapper family, Lutjanidae, found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

Taxonomy

French zoologist Achille Valenciennes first described this species in 1830 as Mesoprion goreensis, naming it after Gorée, Senegal, the location where the original specimen was collected.

Description

This fish has a fairly deep body, a pointed snout, and a steep forehead. Its vomerine teeth form a triangular patch with a clear rearward extension. The dorsal fin consists of 10 spines and 14 soft rays, while the anal fin has 3 spines and 8 soft rays. The pectoral fins, with 16 rays, are relatively short and do not reach the anus, and the caudal fin is slightly forked.

The Gorean snapper can reach a maximum total length of 80 cm (31 in), though 50 cm (20 in) is more common. Adults have vivid pink or reddish backs and upper sides, with silvery-white lower sides and belly. A thin blue line or row of broken spots runs beneath the eye. Smaller individuals in shallow water are mostly brownish.

Distribution and habitat

Its range runs along West Africa from Senegal south to Angola, though it is less common below the Congo River. It also appears around the Cape Verde Islands, the Canary Islands, and Madeira. Adults live over rocky bottoms and near coral reefs, while juveniles are often found in coastal waters, especially estuaries, and occasionally in the lower stretches of rivers. The species occupies depths from 0 to 50 m (0 to 164 ft).

Biology

A predator, the Gorean snapper feeds on other fish and larger bottom-dwelling invertebrates.

It is caught by commercial and artisanal fisheries across its range, mainly with seines, hook and line, and spearfishing, as well as handlines, fixed bottom nets, and trawl nets. The catch is typically sold fresh. In the brackish water zone of the Niger Delta, it is farmed alongside L. agennes, with an estimated yield of 1,415 kg (3,120 lb) per hectare per year. Because little data exists on landings or its biology, the IUCN lists it as Data Deficient, noting it may be vulnerable to overfishing and that its true status could be Near Threatened or Vulnerable.