LUTJANIDAE


Lutjanus kasmira
(photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin)


Lutjanus kasmira
(Forsskål, 1775)
Common Bluestripe Snapper

D X, 14-15; A III, 7-8; P1 15-16; LLp 48-51; GR 7-8 + 13-14.

Body moderately deep. Preopercular notch and knob well developed. Vomerine tooth patch crescentic, without a medial posterior extension. Caudal fin slightly emarginate. Scale rows on back rising obliquely above lateral line. Color: back and sides bright yellow; lower sides and underside of head white; 4 bright blue or cobalt stripes on side; fins yellow. Size: maximum length about 35 cm. Distribution: widespread in the Indo-Pacific from East Africa to the Marquesas and Line islands and from southern Japan to Australia. Remarks: inhabits coral reefs, occurring in both shallow lagoons and on outer reef slopes. Frequently found in large aggregations around coral formations, and caves. Feeds on fishes, shrimps, crabs, stomatopods, cephalopods, and planktonic crustaceans. Frequently found in markets. Caught mainly with hook and line and gill nets. (Yukio Iwatsuki)