lutjanids

Lutjanids, or snappers, are a family of marine ray-finned fishes (Lutjanidae) found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. The group comprises about 15 genera and roughly 100 species, with Lutjanus being the most species-rich genus. Snappers inhabit a range of habitats including coral reefs, rocky bottoms, mangroves, seagrass beds, and open continental shelves, from shallow inshore waters to deeper offshore zones. Juveniles frequently use nursery habitats such as estuaries and mangroves.

Lutjanids are typically moderately to strongly built, with a laterally compressed body, a large mouth armed with sharp canines, and a generally two-dorsal-fin configuration. They are mostly ambush predators that feed on smaller fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. They are active during the day and may form schools as juveniles, often becoming more solitary or paired as adults.

Reproduction varies among species; most are marine spawners releasing buoyant eggs into the pelagic zone. In many lutjanids individuals are protogynous hermaphrodites, maturing as females before becoming males later in life.

Economically, lutjanids are important for commercial and recreational fisheries in many regions. The red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) is one of the best-known targets in the western Atlantic, among others in the Indo-Pacific. Overfishing and habitat loss have led to management measures such as catch quotas and size limits in many fisheries.

Taxonomy: Lutjanidae is within the order Perciformes.