DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

ZOOGEOGRAPHY

ECOLOGY

BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR

VALUE OF FISH RESOURCES

CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

DANGEROUS MARINE FISHES

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

BIBLIOGRAPHY

SPECIES INDEX

CHAMORRO NAMES

LUTJANIDAE (SNAPPERS)

Lutjanus bohar (Forsskål)
(Red Snapper; Tagafi)
SL: to 76 cm (photo: 62.8 cm SL, Orote Cliffs, 18 m)

This large, wary snapper is found on exposed seaward reefs and in deep channels and nearby lagoon waters, in the depth range of 4 to at least 100 m. It is relatively uncommon at Guam, but on low atolls and seaward reefs of underexploited high islands such as Kosrae it is abundant and occasionally occurs in roving packs.  It is usually solitary and feeds primarily on fishes and to a lesser extent on crustaceans, cephalopods, and other molluscs.  In Palau, Red Snappers aggregate to spawn along the outer reef slope around full moon, most heavily from April to July.  This is the most frequently ciguatoxic fish in the Indo-Pacific region and is banned from sale in many places.  It is taken both by bottom fishing and, infrequently, by trolling.

INDO-PACIFIC: Red Sea to the Tuamotus and the Line Is., n. to the Ryukyus, s. to Lord Howe.