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Japanese snapper (Paracaesio caerulea) — Lutjanidae

Japanese snapper

Paracaesio caerulea
Family: Lutjanidae

The Japanese snapper (Paracaesio caerulea) is a saltwater fish of the family Lutjanidae that grows up to 50 cm.

Length
50 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
100.0–355.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Japanese snapper is a deepwater snapper (Lutjanidae) from reef water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 40 cm and has an elongate, streamlined, blue-silver body with a deeply forked tail. Unlike most snappers it is a plankton feeder that hovers in schools above deeper reef and rock slopes and snaps small zooplankton. It is a valued food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Japanese snapper?

The Japanese snapper has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly blue.

Where does the Japanese snapper live?

The Japanese snapper lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Japanese snapper get?

The Japanese snapper grows to a maximum of about 50 cm. On average the species is around 30 cm.

Is the Japanese snapper dangerous to humans?

No, the Japanese snapper is harmless to humans.

Is the Japanese snapper edible?

Yes, the Japanese snapper is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Blauwe diepwater-snapper sourced
English name
Japanese snapper sourced
Scientific name
Paracaesio caerulea
Family
Lutjanidae
Other names
Japanese snapper verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
50.0 verified
Average length (cm)
30.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
100.0 verified
Max depth (m)
355.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Paracaesio

More from the family Lutjanidae

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