Overview
The body is relatively deep for the genus with the head pointed, the dorsal profile of forehead somewhat angular. The preorbital bone is broad and the maxilla extends nearly to mid-eye level. The vomerine teeth occur in a triangular patch, some times with a short median extension posteriorly. About 7 well formed gill rakers are found on the first arch.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Perciformes
- Family
- Lutjanidae
- Genus
- Lutjanus
- Species
- agennes
Habitat
Rocky bottoms and coral reefs. It is also common in brackish lagoons and rivers, particularly the juveniles.
Diet
African red snapper primarily feed on smaller fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods like squid. They are ambush predators that hunt during the day in schools or individually. Feeding activity peaks at dawn and dusk near reefs and structures.
Behavior
African red snapper are typically solitary or form small schools, actively patrolling coral reefs and rocky areas during the day. They exhibit territorial behavior around feeding grounds and shelters, becoming more reclusive at night. This species is known for its cautious approach to potential threats, often hiding in crevices when alarmed.
Fishing
Like other large snapper, the Guinean snapper is generally caught bottom fishing. It is an important food fish in the subsistence fishery.
Conservation Status
Listed as Data Deficient by IUCN.