About Macolor niger (Forsskål, 1775)
Macolor niger, commonly known as the black and white snapper, can reach a maximum total length of 75 cm (30 in), although most individuals do not grow larger than 35 cm (14 in). This species has black fins and black eyes, and its body color ranges from light grey to black, changing with age. Juveniles are typically striped, and develop a fully black body coloration when they reach adulthood. The black and white snapper has a relatively deep body, with a convex dorsal profile of the head and a large mouth that extends backward to the front of the eye. Each jaw has an outer band of conical teeth; these teeth are enlarged into canine-like teeth at the front of the jaw. Inside this outer band are bands of bristle-like teeth, positioned on the side of the upper jaw and toward the front of the lower jaw. Vomerine teeth are arranged in a rough chevron shape, with no median posterior extension. There is a deep incision on the lower margin of the preoperculum. The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 13 to 15 soft rays, while the anal fin has 3 spines and 10 to 11 soft rays. The rear tips of both the dorsal and anal fins are distinctly pointed. The pectoral fins are long, reaching as far as the anus, and contain 17 to 18 fin rays. The caudal fin is emarginate. The black and white snapper has a wide distribution across the Indo-Pacific. Along the eastern coast of Africa, it occurs from the Red Sea south to South Africa, and can also be found in the Seychelles, islands of the Mozambique Channel, Madagascar, the western Mascarenes, and extends east to the Maldives, Laccadives, Chagos Islands, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island, and Sri Lanka. In the Pacific Ocean, it is found from western Malaysia, western Indonesia, and the Andaman Sea east to the Marshall Islands, Samoa, and Tonga, south to Australia, and north to central Japan. It has also been recorded from Niue and the Cook Islands. This species lives at depths between 2 and 90 m (6 ft 7 in and 295 ft 3 in), and inhabits areas around the steep outer slopes of lagoon reefs, channels, and seaward slopes.
