Checkered snapper (Lutjanus decussatus)

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 decussatus · Authority: (Cuvier, 1828) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 276530.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Lutianus decussatus (Cuvier, 1828); Lutjanus decussates (Cuvier, 1828); Lutjanus dessucatus (Cuvier, 1828); Mesoprion decussatus Cuvier, 1828; Mesoprion therapon Day, 1870.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=276530 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 35 cm · Common length: 25 cm · Depth range: 0–50 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 25 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Adults inhabit both inshore and offshore coral reefs where they occur singly or in schools. Small juveniles on shallow protected reef flats and are used in the aquarium trade.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 1428) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Lutjanus-decussatus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

1,393 georeferenced occurrence records for Lutjanus decussatus are published through GBIF from 16 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 176 distinct locations from a sample of 1,393 records, omitting 43 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 (447); Indonesia (366); Philippines (206); Thailand (131); Malaysia (89).

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

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2384996) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2384996&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=276530 (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 decussatus (Cuvier, 1828) 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 155089) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/155089/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2384996) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2384996/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Lutjanus decussatus was first formally described as Mesoprion decussatus in 1828 by the French zoologist Georges Cuvier with the type locality given as Java in Indonesia. The specific name decussatus means "divided crosswise in the form of an X", a reference to the checkered pattern on the body of this species made by five horizontal red bands crossed by seven vertical brown bands.

Lutjanus decussatus has a moderately deep body with a depth which is between a quarter and a third of its standard length with a moderately sloped upper profile to the head. The preoperculum has a weak knob and notch. The vomerine teeth are arranged in a crescent-shaped patch with no rearwards extension and there is a patch grain-like teeth on its tongue. The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 13-14 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 8-9 soft rays. The rear part of the dorsal fin and the anal fin have a rounded shape. The maximum total length recorded for this species is 35 cm although 25 cm is more typical. This species has an overall colour of whitish to pale greyish brown to reddish-brown stripes and bars creating a checkered pattern on the upper flanks, and they have a large black spot on the base of the caudal fin. They have pale coloured fins and a red submarginal stripe on the caudal fin.

Lutjanus decussatus is found in the Indo-West Pacific region. Its range extends from Sri Lanka and eastern India east to Micronesia, north to the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan and south to Australia. In Australia this species is found at the Dampier Archipelago and the offshore reefs of northern Western Australia, at the Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea, and the northern Great Barrier Reef off Queensland. It is found in relatively shallow water, varying in depth from 2 to 30 m on coastal reef faces and sandy slopes where there are scattered patches of reef, they also less commonly occur on offshore reefs. Juveniles are found on sheltered reef flats.

Lutjanus decussatus adults may be solitary or live in small schools. They feed on fishes and crustaceans. Off Okinawa this species spawned during June and October, the spawning events being determined by lunar cycles.

Lutjanus decussatus is taken by subsistence fisheries which catch it with handlines, traps and gill nets, it is not very important to commercial fisheries, although it is taken by these fisheries in some parts of its range such as the Ryukyu Islands.. Small numbers sometimes appear in the aquarium trade.

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