• EnglishName: Emperor red snapper
  • Local Name : Maaginimas
  • Size : Common to 60 cm; max. 1m
  • Family:LUTJANIDAE
  • Order : Perciformes
  • Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 10 or 11 spines and 15 or 16 rays. Anal fin with 3 spines and 8 rays. Pectoral fin with 17 rays. Body very deep. Body depth 2.1-2.4 in standard length. Scale rows below lateral line ascending obliquely. Caudal fin slightly forked.
  • Colour: Reddish or pink. Smaller specimens with 3 darker bands on sides. The first runs forward across the head, the second down the centre of the body and the third curves back rom the dorsal fin to the lower part of the caudal fin.
  • Habitat and Biology: Occurs in the vicinity of coral reefs, often over adjacent sand flats. Adults range from 10 to at least 100 m depth. Juveniles sometimes found in mangrove areas. Feeds on fishes, benthic crustaceans and cephalopods.
  • Distribution: Indo-West Pacific.
  • Remarks: The Emperor red snapper, Lutjanaus sebae can easily be recognised with its distinctive shape and colouration. It also has more soft dorsal and anal rays than other Lutjanus. It is rather rare in Maldives, there being very few published records of its occurrence here.
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Biodiversity of Maldives
Biodiversity of Maldives