Description:

Dorsal spines: 11; Dorsal rays: 13-14; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 8.

Small snapper. Body fusiform, slender to moderately deep. Snout somewhat pointed. Scale rows rise obliquely above lateral line. Caudal fin emarginate.

Bright yellow on upper half of body and white ventrally. The upper flanks have four pale blue stripes with dark edges. The upper stripe extending from the upper edge of the 
operculum to the base of the last dorsal rays and the lowest from the upper maxilla, under the eye to the middle of the caudal peduncle. The lower stripe separates the yellow 
flanks from the pure white ventral surface. Median fins yellow, pectoral and pelvic fins white.

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 30 cm TL. Commonly 20 cm TL.
 

Mainly inhabits coral and rocky reefs (depth 10-30 m). Sometimes forms small aggregations around rocky outcrops and coral heads during daylight hours. Feeds on fishes and 
crustaceans. 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the fish trap fishery, a regular but not particularly common component of the catch.

Shares the Creole name “Madras” with the Common blue stripe snapper (L. kasmira).

It is the lack of yellow striping on the ventral surface that distinguishes L. Bengalensis from the Common blue stripe snapper L. kasmira.
 

Allen, G.R. (1985). FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 6 Snappers of the World. UNFAO Rome 1985.
Fishes of Taiwan. Lutjanus bengalensis. http://fishdb.sinica.edu.tw/eng/species.php?science=Lutjanus%20bengalensis (25/03/19).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/1409 (25/03/19).
Nevill, J. (2013). A Species Identification Guide for Commonly Caught Fish in the Seychelles Near-Shore Artisanal Fishery. GOS/UNDP/GEF.
Russell, B. et al. (2019). Lutjanus bengalensis. The IUCN Red List 2019: e.T194358A2320546. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T194358A2320546.en. (18/07/22).

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Lutjanus bengalensis, Bengal snapper. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/lutjanus-bengalensis-bloch-1790/ (updated 18/07/22).