Lutjanus indicus

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 indicus · Authority: Allen, White & Erdmann, 2013 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 835109.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=835109 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 92 cm · Depth range: 5–50 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 56.8 of 100 · Fishery importance: bycatch · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: This species was observed in coral-reef habitat; generally encountered solitary or in small groups in about 5-15 m depth. It is also taken by trawlers in deeper water (to at least 50 m) and usually appears in fish markets. Few information on juvenile habitat, but suspected to be similar to L. russellii where young are found in brackish mangrove estuaries and lower reaches of freshwater streams (Ref. 93093).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 66803) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Lutjanus-indicus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

54 georeferenced occurrence records for Lutjanus indicus are published through GBIF from 10 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 21 distinct locations from a sample of 54 records, omitting 12 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: India (12); Australia (10); Thailand (10); Myanmar (8); Bangladesh (3); Indonesia (3); Malaysia (3); United Arab Emirates (2); Oman (2); Maldives (1).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 8384831) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=8384831&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=835109 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Lutjanus indicus Allen, White & Erdmann, 2013 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 47406916) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/47406916/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 8384831) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/8384831/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Lutjanus indicus was first formally described in 2013 by Gerald R. Allen, William T. White and Mark V. Erdmann with the type locality given as Trincomalee in Sri Lanka. The specific name indicus refers to the Indian Ocean. Within the genus Lutjanus, L. indicus is closest to the Western Pacific L. russellii.

Description

Lutjanus indicus has a spindle shaped body with a steeply sloped forehead and a large mouth, the maxilla reaching the centreline of the large eyes. The upper jaw has two rows of teeth, the outer row of 14-16 smaller canines, plus a pair of enlarged canines being larger than the inner row of patches of tiny teeth, the lower jaw has 14-18 larger teeth in its outer row with inner rows made up of small bristle-like teeth. The vomerine teeth are arranged in a crescent-shaped patch with a rearwards extendion and there is a patch of grain-like teeth on the tongue.

The incision and knob on the preoperculum are weakly developed. The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 13-14 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 8 soft rays. The caudal fin is truncate. The maximum recorded standard length for this species is 22.6 cm.

The overall colour is pale grey, shading to silvery white on the lower part of the body, there are seven dark brown to yellow horizontal stripes on the back of the head and flanks, there is an obvious black spot, larger than the eye, on the back underneath the first 6-7 dorsal fin rays, extending to just below the lateral line.

Distribution and habitat

Lutjanus indicus is found in the Indian Ocean. It is known with certainty to occur in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman, along the northern shores of the Indian Ocean to eastern India, the Gulf of Mannar and to western Thailand.

It appears to be the western sister species of L. russellii and records of that species from the Red Sea, Eastern Africa, Madagascar, the Seychelles and the Mascarenes are likely to be of L. indicus but this needs confirmation. They have been observed in coral reef habitat at depths of between 5 and 15 m, although it has been trawled from as deep as 50 m. It is thought that like L. russellii the juveniles inhabit brackish habitats such as mangroves and estuaries, even reaching into the lower parts of freshwater streams.

Biology

Lutjanus indicus is a newly described species and little is known about its biology. It has been encountered as single fish or in small groups of up to 5 individuals. It is a predatory species.

Fisheries

Lutjanus indicus is frequently recorded in fish markets and is caught by commercial fisheries as both an intended quarry and as bycatch.

Source: Wikipedia: Lutjanus indicus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutjanus_indicus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.