Pacific dog snapper (Lutjanus novemfasciatus)

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 novemfasciatus · Authority: Gill, 1862 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 276544.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Jordanichthys holei Evermann & Clark, 1928; Lutjanus prieto Jordan & Gilbert, 1882; Mesoprion pacificus Bocourt, 1868.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=276544 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 170 cm · Depth range: 0–60 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 90 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Adults inhabit coastal rocky and coral reefs up to at least 60 m depth (Ref. 9313). Juveniles may be encountered in estuaries with mangroves and mouths of rivers (Ref. 9313). Carnivorous, feed on big invertebrates (such as crabs, prawns and shrimps) and fish (Ref. 9313). Marketed fresh or frozen (Ref. 9313).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 169) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Lutjanus-novemfasciatus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

1,333 georeferenced occurrence records for Lutjanus novemfasciatus are published through GBIF from 8 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 96 distinct locations from a sample of 1,333 records, omitting 76 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: Mexico (661); Colombia (266); Ecuador (191); Costa Rica (110); Panama (86).

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

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2385015) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2385015&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=276544 (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 novemfasciatus Gill, 1862 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 183311) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/183311/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2385015) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2385015/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Lutjanus novemfasciatus was first formally described in 1862 by the American ichthyologist Theodore Nicholas Gill with the type locality given as Baja California. The specific name novemfasciatus means "nine-banded", a reference to the nine indistinct bands on its flanks.

Description

Lutjanus novemfasciatus has an oblong body which has a depth of 31% to 35% of its standard length. There is a sharp snout with two pairs of nostrils which are simple holes, one pair at the front and another behind that pair. It has a large, protrusible mouth with conical and canine-like teeth on the jaws, the front teeth being enlarged into "fangs". The serrated preoperculum has an incision and a knob but these are only moderately or weakly developed.

The vomerine teeth are arranged in a crescent shaped patch with no rearward extension and the tongue has several patches of granular teeth. The fangs at the front of the mouth are longer than the diameter of the pupil. The dorsal fin contains 10 spines and 13-14 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 8 soft rays, The dorsal fin is continuous with both it and the anal fin having rounded rear ends. The pectoral fins have 16 or 17 rays and the caudal fin may be truncate or weakly emarginate.

This is the largest species of snapper, reaching a maximum total length of 170 cm and a greatest published weight of 35.7 kg. The overall colour varies from dark to pale red, shading to silver on the abdomen. Juveniles and the majority of adults are marked with 8-9 vertical bars on the upper flanks. Even in barred adults the bars may fade quickly after death.

The fins are mostly brownish in adults, in juveniles the caudal fin is black and sous the margin of the spiny part of the dorsal fin. The skin on the inside of the mouth is orange.

Distribution and habitat

Lutjanus novemfasciatus is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean where it occurs from southern California to Peru, including the Gulf of California, Galápagos Islands, Cocos Island and Malpelo Island. This is an inshore, reef associated fish which prefers hard substrates, although the juveniles have been recorded entering freshwater.

Biology

Lutjanus novemfasciatus is a nocturnal predator feeding during the night on crustaceans and smaller species of fish which form schools such as croakers, grunts, and wrasses. They shelter in the daylight hours. In Mexico this species is migratory, arriving in inshore waters in early summer, in most years.

Fisheries

Lutjanus novemfasciatus is an important Quarry for subsistence fisheries in Colombia and for commercial fisheries in Nicaragua. It is also a popular target species for spearfishing in the Gulf of California.

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