Two-spot red snapper (Lutjanus bohar)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Eupercaria incertae sedis · Family: Lutjanidae · Genus: Lutjanus.

Accepted name: Lutjanus bohar · Authority: (Forsskål, 1775) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 218479.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Diacope labuan Montrouzier, 1857; Diacope quadriguttata Cuvier, 1828; Lutianus bobar (Forsskål, 1775); Lutianus bohar (Forsskål, 1775); Lutianus nukuhivae Seale, 1906; Lutjanus coatesi Whitley, 1934; Lutjanus rangus (Cuvier, 1828); Mesoprion rangus Cuvier, 1828; Mesoprion rubens MacLeay, 1882; Sciaena bohar Forsskål, 1775; Sparus cynodon Bloch, 1791; Sparus lepisurus Lacepède, 1802.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218479 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Lutjanus bohar. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 90 cm · Common length: 76 cm · Depth range: 0–180 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 68.4 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Adults inhabit coral reefs, including sheltered lagoons and outer reefs (Ref. 30573). Usually found singly, often adjacent to steep outer reef slopes, but occasionally found in groups (Ref. 9710). Feeds mainly on fishes, but also take shrimps, crabs, amphipods, stomatopods, gastropods and urochordates. Large fish from oceanic areas in the western Pacific are often ciguatoxic, e.g., in Tuvalu (Ref. 9513). Caught mainly with handlines and bottom longlines (Ref. 9821). Utilized fresh and dried-salted (Ref. 9987). Juveniles mimic Chromis damselfishes (Ref. 90102). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 1417) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Lutjanus-bohar.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

19,584 georeferenced occurrence records for Lutjanus bohar are published through GBIF from 59 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 271 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 30 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Australia (6,615); United States Minor Outlying Islands (5,369); Northern Mariana Islands (2,156); American Samoa (1,527); Seychelles (363).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2384758) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2384758&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218479 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Lutjanus bohar (Forsskål, 1775) as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 194363) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/194363/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2384758) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2384758/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Lutjanus bohar was first formally described as Sciaena bohar in 1775 with no type locality given, although it is thought to be the Red Sea.

"Fabricius [J. C.] in Niebuhr (ex Forsskål) 1775:46, xi [Descriptiones animalium (Forsskål)"

Catalog of Fishes then states that the valid binomial is Lutjanus bohar (Fabricius, 1775).

The specific name bohar is the Arabic word used for this fish in the Red Sea.

The two-spot red snapper can reach a length of 90 cm, though most do not exceed 76 cm. The greatest recorded weight for this species is 12.5 kg. These large reddish tropical snappers show darker fins, a rounded profile of head and a groove running from the nostrils to the eyes. They have 10 dorsal spines and 3 anal spines. Juveniles and some adults have two silvery-white spots (hence the common name) on the back close to their dorsal fins, while larger adults lose the spots and become mostly red. Large adults may cause ciguatera poisoning.

This species is a commercially important species and is also sought after as a game fish.

Adult snappers often form large schools on the outer reefs or above sandy areas, mainly to form spawning aggregations. Small brownish juveniles mimic damselfishes of the genus Chromis in order to approach their prey.

The chambered nautilus, Nautilus pompilius, is known to scavenge deceased snappers. A pair of nautiluses recorded feeding on a snapper at 703 metres below the surface constitutes the deepest recorded sighting of any nautilus species.

This species is native to the Indian Ocean. It is widespread in the Indo-Pacific from the east African coast, north to the Red Sea, to the western Pacific Ocean, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia.

It is a coral reef inhabitant, being found at depths from 4 to 180 m, though usually between 10 and 70 m.

Source: Wikipedia: Lutjanus bohar — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutjanus_bohar (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.