Lutjanus vivanus

Lutjanus vivanus
Silk Snapper – Lutjanus vivanus
FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
LutjanidaeLutjanus vivanus(Cuvier)1828Silk Snapper

Note: All Lutjanus — Soft dorsal and anal fins with scales. Dorsal fin with 10 or 12, rarely, 9, 11, or 13 spines, and 11-14, rarely 10 or 15, soft rays. Ectopterygoid teeth absent. Gill rakers, excluding rudiments, 16 or fewer, rarely 17, on lower limb of first gill arch. Caudal fin truncate, or nearly so, to moderately forked, lobes of fin not elongated.

Lutjanus vivanus

Unique Characters: Anal fin angulated in larger individuals, the middle rays elongated, the longest almost half to greater than half length of head (anal fin rounded in L. vivanus less than about 6 cm standard length). A dark spot below anterior part of soft dorsal fin, at least in young, this spot present, but disappearing by about 20-30 cm standard length. Vomerine tooth patch triangular or anchor-shaped, with a median posterior extension. Soft rays in anal fin 7-9, usually 8 or 9. Spot below anterior part of soft dorsal fin present in young, diffuse or absent in adults. Soft rays in anal fin 8, rarely 7 or 9. Rows of lateral scales 49-53, usually 50 or 51. Scales below lateral line 20-24; scales above lateral line 10-12, usually 11 or 12. Sum of rows of lateral scales and scales above and below lateral line 81-88. Iris of eye bright yellow in life.

Similar Species:

Mutton Snapper Lutjanus analis

Red Snapper
Lutjanus campechanus

Caribbean Red Snapper
Lutjanus purpureus

Lutjanus analis
Mutton Snapper – Lutjanus analis

Lutjanus campechanus
Red Snapper – Lutjanus campechanus
Lutjanus purpureus
Carribbean Red Snapper – Lutjanus purpureus

Mutton Snapper Lutjanus analis. Anal fin angulated in larger individuals, the middle rays elongated, the longest almost half to greater than half length of head (anal fin rounded in L. analis less than about 4 cm standard length). A dark spot below anterior part of soft dorsal fin, at least in young, this spot present in L. analis to at least 46 cm standard length. Vomerine tooth patch without a distinct posterior extension on median line. Soft rays in anal fin usually 8, rarely 7. Spot below anterior part of soft dorsal fin relatively large in small individuals, small but distinct in large ones. Iris of eye red in life.

Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus. Anal fin angulated in larger individuals, the middle rays elongated, the longest almost half to greater than half length of head (anal fin rounded in L. campechanus less than about 5 cm standard length). A dark spot below anterior part of soft dorsal fin, at least in young, this spot present, but disappearing by about 20-30 cm standard length in L. campechanus. Vomerine tooth patch triangular or anchor-shaped, with a median posterior extension. Soft rays in anal fin 7-9, usually 8 or 9. Spot below anterior part of soft dorsal fin present in young, diffuse or absent in adults. Soft rays in anal fin 9, rarely 8. Rows of lateral scales 46-50, usually 47-49. Scales above lateral line 7-10, usually 8 or 9. Scales below lateral line 15-19, usually 16 or 17. Sum of rows of lateral scales and scales above and below lateral line 69-75. Iris of eye red in life.

Caribbean Red Snapper Lutjanus purpureus. Anal fin angulated in larger individuals, the middle rays elongated, the longest almost half to greater than half length of head (anal fin rounded in L. purpureus less than about 5 cm standard length). A dark spot below anterior part of soft dorsal fin, at least in young (this spot present, but disappearing by about 20-30 cm standard length). Vomerine tooth patch triangular or anchor-shaped, with a median posterior extension. Soft rays in anal fin 7-9, usually 8 or 9. Spot below anterior part of soft dorsal fin present in young, diffuse or absent in adults. Soft rays in anal fin 8, rarely 7 or 9. Rows of lateral scales 49-53, usually 50 or 51. Scales below lateral line 16-19; scales above lateral line 9-11, usually 10. Sum of rows of lateral scales and scales above and below lateral line 76-82. Iris of eye red in life.

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