About Lutjanus griseus (Linnaeus, 1758)
This species, commonly known as mangrove snapper, is typically greyish red in color, but its color can range from bright red to copper red. When observed from above while underwater, it has a dark stripe running across its eye. This species can reach a maximum length of 89 cm (35 in), though most individuals do not exceed 40 cm (16 in). The heaviest recorded specimen of this species weighed 20 kg (44 lb). Mangrove snapper can easily be confused with cubera snapper (L. cyanopterus), also called black snapper. Mangrove snapper are typically much smaller than cubera snapper; when the two species are similar in size, they can only be told apart by examining the tooth patch on the inner roof of the mouth. Many specimens caught in Florida, particularly in Punta Gorda, are actually misidentified dogtooth snapper (also called dog snapper, L. jocu). The clearest difference between the two species is that dog snapper have a lighter colored triangular patch with a blue band under the eye, plus large, sharp canines (fangs) at the front of the mouth, which gives the species its common name. Even small dog snapper can deliver a painful bite with these fangs. Mangrove snapper feed mostly on small fish, crustaceans including crabs and shrimp, cephalopods, gastropods, and polychaete worms, and will also eat some planktonic items such as copepods and amphipods. One observation documented mangrove snapper waiting systematically beneath a maternal colony of buffy flower bats near the entrance of Lucayan Cavern, Bahamas, to catch falling bats. Mangrove snapper is one of the most common snapper species found in warmer regions. It occupies a wide range of habitats, from canals and grass flats to open water. Mangrove snapper prefer areas with structure, such as docks, mangroves, shipwrecks, and debris. Most open water mangrove snapper are found near bottom structure or reefs. They can live at depths between 5 and 180 m (16 to 591 ft), though most individuals are found at depths of less than 50 m (160 ft).
