Lutjanus kasmira (Forsskål, 1775)

Distinctly coloured, Blueline Snappers have a bright yellow back and sides, with the lower sides and underside of head fading to white. Four bright-blue stripes run longitudinally on the side of the fish, with several faint greyish stripes on lowermost part of sides. All fins are yellow. Inspite of being one of the most common medium-sized fish in the reef, the demand for this fish species for their delicious flesh is so high that they have been introduced to Hawaii, and are fished in large numbers. Blueline snappers usually swim in large schools, or groups, around the reef, caves, and even shipwrecks. They have been known to steal food from other Hawaiian fishes and crowd them out of their homes on the reef.

Marine

First maturity is observed in both male and female fish of size 17cm. About 50% maturity was observed in females of size 20cm. Most Blue-stripe snappers reach full maturity at a size of about 20-25cm. When it is time to mate, they sometimes dance in circles with their partners towards the surface of the water. Spawning occurs almost throughout the year in lower lattitudes with peak spawning activity reported in November-March in the Andaman sea. The fecundity of L. kasmira varies from 42,100 to 332,620. Eggs measure from 0.78 to 0.85 mm in diameter. They are bouyant (pelagic), spherical, smooth and transparent. They hatch in 18hr when temperatures reach 22 to 25°C. Before hatching, melanophores are seen along the dorsal side and on the postero-ventral part of the embryonal body.

Max length : 40.0 cm TL male/unsexed. Common length : 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed.

During the day, bluestripe snappers can be spotted swimming near the edges of the reef. At night they move away from the reef and look for food in soft, sandy areas. When they’re young, bluestripe snappers live in seagrass beds which keep them hidden from bigger fish that want to eat them.

Omnivores. The diet of this fish species does not change significantly from year to year. There are few variations in diet between younger and adult stages. The Bluestripe Snapper has a varied diet, feeding on fishes, shrimps, crabs, stomatopods, cephalopods and planktonic crusteceans, as well as plant and algae material. Teleost fishes, juvenile crabs, megalopa and juvenile prawns are major parts of their diet. Isopods, amphipods, ostracods, polychaetes, stomatopods, asteroids, ophiuroids, gastropods, holothurians, hermit crabs, pteropods, lucifers, caprellids and cypris also contribute to the diet of L. kasmira.

Inhabits coral reefs, occurring in both shallow lagoons and on outer reef slopes. Frequently found in large aggregations around coral formation, caves or wrecks during the day. Juveniles inhabit seagrass beds around patch reefs . Feeds on fishes, shrimps, crabs, stomatopods, cephalopods, and planktonic crustaceans. Also takes a variety of algae .

The Bluestripe Snapper is part of an unusual relationship of mimicry with the Goatfish, Mulloidichthys mimicus, whose colouration nearly exactly matches that of the Snapper. Goatfish are also known to school alongside this Snapper. This behaviour is attributed to predatory protection, with Goatfish being more preferred prey than Bluestripe Snapper. The parasitic isopod Elthusa raynaudii has been reported from Guam in the mouth of L. kasmira (Williams et al., 2000).

The parasitic isopod Elthusa raynaudii has been reported in the mouth of L. kasmira in Guam (Williams et al., 2000). L. kasmira populations from Hawaii showed inflammation caused by an apicomplexan protozoan compatible with a coccidean in the fish spleen and kidney, and an epitheliocystis-like organism in the fish kidney (Work et. al. 2003).

The preferred habitat of this tropical species changes with age, with young fish schooling on sandy substrates, while larger fish are more solitary, and inhabit deep reef slopes to depths of 3 - 265m (usually 3-150m) below water level. Frequently found in large aggregations around coral formations, caves or wrecks during daylight hours, and in waters at a temperature of about 20°C - 28°C.

Habitat reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 265 m , usually 30 - 150 m

Harmless to humans.

Not evaluated. Fish species show moderate vulnerability (40 of 100), and medium resilience with minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years.

Not Evaluated IUCN 2006

Fisheries: commercial. Gamefish: yes. Aquarium: commercial. Price Category: High. Mainly consumed fresh.

fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial

This species is fairly common in the commercial catches of the Andaman sea, where sea perches form a major part of the catch, contributing to about 20% of the total fish landed every year. Caught with handlines, bottom set gill nets and traps.