Cardinal snapper (Pristipomoides macrophthalmus)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Pristipomoides macrophthalmus · Authority: (Müller & Troschel, 1848) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 276555.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Centropristes macrophthalmus Müller & Troschel, 1848; Mesoprion vorax Poey, 1860.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=276555 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Pristipomoides macrophthalmus. 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: 110–550 m · Habitat zone: benthopelagic · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 40 of 100 · Fishery importance: minor commercial · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Adults are most commonly found in deeper waters of the shelf near the edge of the continental slope. They feed on small fishes and larger planktonic animals. Marketed fresh.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 206) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Pristipomoides-macrophthalmus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

168 georeferenced occurrence records for Pristipomoides macrophthalmus are published through GBIF from 22 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 73 distinct locations from a sample of 168 records, omitting 1 inland record 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 (70); Bahamas (18); Cuba (15); United States of America (12); Colombia (7); Panama (6); Belize (5); Dominica (5); Puerto Rico (4); Saint Barthélemy (3); Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (3); Brazil (3); Jamaica (3); Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (3); Dominican Republic (2).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Gulf of Mexico.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2385189) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2385189&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=276555 (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 Pristipomoides macrophthalmus (Müller & Troschel, 1848) 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 190372) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/190372/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2385189) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2385189/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Pristipomoides macrophthalmus was first formally described in 1848 as Centropristis macrophthalmus by the German zoologists Johannes Peter Müller and Franz Herman Troschel with the type locality given as Barbados. The specific name macrophthalmus means "large eyed" and refers to the eyes being larger than the intraorbital area. In 1862 Theodore N. Gill used Poey's Mesoprion vorax, a junior synonym of C. macrophthalmus, as the type species of the genus Platyinius, which is now regarded as a subgenus of Pristipomoides.

Description

Pristipomoides macrophthalmus has a moderately deep oblong body, its depth being typically over a third of its standard length, which is fusiform. It has a large mouth which has a slightly protruding upper jaw. The eyes are large, the space between the eyes is flattened and the snout is short and blunt. The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 11 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 8 soft rays.

The last soft ray of each of these fins is extended into a short filament. The pectoral fins are long, extending as far as the anus and contain 15 or 16 rays, and the caudal fin is forked. the back and upper flanks are pink in colour with a silvery hue, shading to silvery on the lower flanks and abdomen; the fins vary from translucent to pink. This species attains a maximum total length of 50 cm, although 30 cm is more typical.

Distribution and habitat

Pristipomoides macrophthalmus occurs in the western Atlantic Ocean where it is found from Bermuda and southeastern Florida and Louisiana south through the Gulf of Mexico to Campeche and Cuba. It is also found in the Caribbean Sea from Cuba to St Lucia and along the coast of Centra and South America from Nicaragua to La Guajira, Colombia. They are benthopelagic and are found at depths from 110 to 550 m over soft and semi-hard substrates.

Biology

Pristipomoides macrophthalmus has a poorly known biology. Like other snappers it is a predatory species which feeds on smaller fishes and larger zooplankton. Off Puerto Rico it breeds throughout the year, peaking in March and December. Sexual maturity is attained off Florida at a fork length of 18 cm.

Fisheries

Pristipomoides macrophthalmus is not regarded as a primary target species within its range, it is caught as bycatch or is targeted when the stocks of other snappers are depleted. In Puerto Rico it became a target species when stocks of Lutjanus vivanus underwent a significant decrease. it is caught using handlines and bottom trawls and the catch is normally sold fresh.

Source: Wikipedia: Pristipomoides macrophthalmus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pristipomoides_macrophthalmus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.