Description:

Dorsal spines: 10; Dorsal rays: 13-14; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 8-9.

Deep-bodied snapper. Dorsal profile of head angular, snout steeply sloped. Anterior and posterior nostrils widely spaced. Adults develop distinctive humped head and prominent 
grooves and ridges across head and operculum. Posterior profile of dorsal and anal fins angular; caudal fin truncate or slightly emarginate.

Colour. Adults are bright scarlet with silvery sheen or orange-red colour. Lips yellowish. Fins red to pink. Juveniles with a broad brown bar from upper jaw to beginning of 
dorsal fin and a series of reddish horizontal lines on sides.

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range: 50-60 cm TL. Max Length: 100 cm TL.  Common length: 70 cm TL.

Inhabits coral and rocky reefs (depth 9-100 m). Feeds on reef fish, crabs, stomatopods, squid cuttlefish and zooplankton. They are active at night feeding over sandy or rubble 
bottoms. Form spawning aggregations.
 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the hand line fishery, shoals of juveniles are sometimes caught in the trap fishery. It is a 
relatively common component of the catch, but not numerous and anecdotally in decline. 
 

Al Abdali, F.S.H. et al. (2019). Lutjanus sanguineus. The IUCN Red List 2019: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T194392A2329993.en. (21/07/22).
Allen, G.R. (1985). FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 6 Snappers of the World. UNFAO Rome 1985.
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Lutjanus-sanguineus (26/03/19).
Heemstra, P. & Heemstra, E. (2004). Coastal Fishes of Southern Africa. NISC SAIAB. ISBN: 1-920033-01-7.
Nevill, J. (2013). A Species Identification Guide for Commonly Caught Fish in the Seychelles Near-Shore Artisanal Fishery. GOS/UNDP/GEF.

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Lutjanus sanguineus, Humphead snapper. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/lutjanus-sanguineus-cuvier-1828/ (updated 21/07/22).