Russell's snapper (Lutjanus russellii)

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 russellii · Authority: (Bleeker, 1849) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 218473.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Lutianus nishikawae Smith & Pope, 1906; Lutianus orientalis Seale, 1910; Lutianus russelli (Bleeker, 1849); Lutjanus russelli (Bleeker, 1849); Mesoprion russellii Bleeker, 1849.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218473 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 50 cm · Common length: 30 cm · Depth range: 3–80 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 40 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Adults inhabit offshore coral reefs and also inshore rocky and coral reefs (Ref. 30573), at moderate depths, usually over 20 m, and is more common in about 50 m depth (Ref. 48635). Juveniles frequent mangrove estuaries and lower reaches of freshwater streams (Ref. 30573, 48635). They feed on benthic invertebrates and fish (Ref. 5213). Sold in Hong Kong live fish markets (Ref. 27253). A common market fish throughout its range; also a component of artisanal fisheries. Caught with handlines, traps, and bottom trawls and marketed mostly fresh (Ref. 9821).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 176) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Lutjanus-russellii.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

5,294 georeferenced occurrence records for Lutjanus russellii are published through GBIF from 40 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 172 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 87 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: Mozambique (2,141); Australia (2,102); Chinese Taipei (255); Japan (156); Thailand (104).

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

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2385118) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2385118&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218473 (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 russellii (Bleeker, 1849) 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 194334) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/194334/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2385118) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2385118/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Lutjanus russellii was first formally described in 1849 as Mesoprion russellii by the Dutch physician, herpetologist and ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker with the type locality given as Jakarta, Java in Indonesia. The specific name honours Patrick Russell the Scottish surgeon and herpetologist who described and depicted, without naming, this species in 1803. Within the genus Lutjanus, L. russellii is closest to the Indian Ocean L. Indicus.

Lutjanus russellii has a moderately deep body to slender, its standard length being 2.6-2.8 times its depth. The forehead can be steep or moderately sloped and the knob and incision on the preopercle are poorly developed. The vomerine teeth are arranged in a triangular patch with a rearwards extension or in a rhombus and there is a patch of tiny teeth on the tongue. The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 14 soft rays and the anal fin has 3 spines and 8 soft rays, the rear of the dorsal and anal fins is rounded, although the anal fin tip can be pointed. The pectoral fins contain 16-17 rays and the caudal fin is either truncate or weakly emarginate. This species attains a maximum total length of 50 cm, although 30 cm is more typical. The overall colour of this fish is whitish to silvery greyish-pink with a brownish back. There is an indistinct black spot, sometimes very indistinct, on the lateral line below the front portion of the dorsal fin. The dorsal and caudal fins have a reddish colour while the other fins are yellow. Juveniles are white in colour with four brown to blackish longitudinal stripes along the flanks, although these may be interrupted, and a horizontally-elongated black spot or ocellus on the lateral line.

Lutjanus russellii is found mainly in the western Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of Thailand and Sumatra east to Tonga, north to southern Japan and south to Australia. In Australian waters this species is found from Shark Bay and the offshore reefs in Western Australia, at Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea, round the northern and eastern coasts as far south as Wollongong and maybe to Jervis Bay in New South Wales. This species is found at depths between 3 and 80 m on offshore coral reefs as well as inshore rocky and coral reefs. The juveniles inhabit mangrove lined estuaries and the lower parts of freshwater streams.

Lutjanus russellii is a predatory fish which preys on benthic fishes and invertebrates. They reach sexual maturity at 28.1 cm fork length, when they are about 4 years of age. The average longevity is around 17 years.

Lutjanus russellii is a target species for artisanal fisheries and is frequently sold in fish markets wherever it occurs. Fishers catch it using handlines, traps and bottom trawls. It is also taken live and sold within the Hong Kong live fish trade. This species is also extensively cultured in aquaculture.

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

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