LUTJANIDAE


Lutjanus quinquelineatus, 16.2 cm SL
(photo by Seishi Kimura)


Lutjanus quinquelineatus
(Bloch, 1790)
Five-lined Snapper

D X, 13-15; A III, 8; P1 16-17; LLp 47-50; GR 7-8 + 13-15.

Body moderately deep, its depth 2.3-2.9 in SL. Anterodorsal profile of head steeply sloped; preorbital width usually less than eye diameter; preopercular notch and knob well developed. Posterior profile of dorsal and anal fins rounded to angular; caudal fin truncate or slightly emarginate. Scale rows on back rising obliquely above lateral line. Color: generally bright yellow, including fins, with a series of 5 blue stripes on each side; a round black spot, about the size of the eye or larger, below anterior most soft dorsal rays, touching the lateral line but mostly above it; fins yellow. Size: maximum length about 38 cm, commonly to 20 cm. Distribution: Indo-Pacific: Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to Fiji, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. Remarks: inhabits sheltered lagoons and exposed, outer slope coral reefs at depth range of 2-40 m. (Ukkrit Satapoomin)