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Size
1-2 feet (30.5-61 cm) -
Diet
Fish, shrimp, crabs, worms, gastropods and cephalopods -
Range
Western Atlantic Ocean -
Habitat
Shallow, clear, warm coastal waters over coral reefs and rocks
Physical Characteristics
- Adult schoolmaster snappers can reach a maximum size of about 2.2 feet (67 cm) and 5 lbs. (2.3 kg). More commonly it is encountered at weights of less than 1 lb. (0.5 kg).
Diet / Feeding
- Feeds on fishes, shrimp, crabs, worms, gastropods and cephalopods.
Range / Habitat
- The schoolmaster snapper is a marine fish widely distributed in the Western Atlantic from Massachusetts to northern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas and Bermuda. It is also found along the coast of West Africa.
- Found in shallow, clear, warm coastal waters over coral reefs and rocks to depths of approximately 200 feet (61 m).
- Frequently is found in the shelter of elkhorn coral and gorgonians.
- Juveniles are encountered over sandy bottoms (both with and without seagrass) and over muddy bottoms of lagoons and mangrove areas. Young sometimes enter brackish water.
Reproduction & Growth
- Oviparous- egg-laying species.
Conservation Status
- “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.
Additional Information
- Schoolmaster snappers are the most abundant snapper in the waters of the West Indies.
- The species has been reported to cause ciguatera poisoning.
Sources
- www.fishbase.org
- Coral Reef Fishes. Lieske, E. and Myers, R., pg. 156
- Atlantic Coast Fishes – Peterson’s Field Guides. Robins, C.R., Ray, G.C. and Douglass, J.
