Lutjanus bengalensis (Bloch, 1790)
Bengal snapper
Aluman,  Bislao,  Katambak,  Labungan,  Mangagat,  Maya-maya
Lutjanus bengalensis
photo by Allen, G.R.

Family:  Lutjanidae (Snappers), subfamily: Lutjaninae
Max. size:  30 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 10 - 30 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: widespread; from South Africa to the Philippines; north to Japan. Records from the Middle East, including the Red Sea, refer to L. sapphirolineatus.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-14; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D XI,13 or 14 (usually 13); A III, 8; pectoral-fin 16 or 17; lateral-line scales 47-50; horizontal scale rows above the lateral line 8 or 9; scale rows above lateral line rising obliquely toward dorsal profile; predorsal scales extending forward nearly to level of just above anterior edge of orbit; scale rows on cheek 8-11; without subocular extension of cheek scales; gill rakers on first arch 7 or 8 + 15-17 = 22-25; tongue is smooth, toothless; preopercular notch developed just above angle; interopercular knob inconspicuous; the first blue stripe is running from above anterior edge of eye and ending below the 7?9th dorsal-fin spine base; third stripe usually running from middle of upper part of opercle or anterior edge of upper opercle to below posterior fourth of soft portion of dorsal fin, reaching the last soft dorsal-ray base (Ref. 110188).
Biology:  Adults mainly inhabit coral and rocky reefs (Ref. 30573). They sometimes form small aggregations around rocky outcrops and coral heads during daylight hours. Feed on fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 30573).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 June 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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