Twospot Snapper

Other names: Two-spot Banded Snapper or Two-spot Snapper.

Description

Lutjanus biguttatus has a very slender, fusiform body with a snout which has a low, gently sloping profile. The preoperculum’s knob and incision are weak. In the mouth the vomerine teeth are arranged in a triangular patch, with a posterior extension, or in a rhombus shape and there are no teeth on the tongue. The caudal fin is truncate. The dorsal fin contains 11 spines and 12 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 8 soft rays.
This species has a greyish back, a wide horizontal white stripe running from the mouth to the caudal peduncle bordered on both sides by two reddish-brown stripes. There are two white spots on the back underneath the base of the dorsal fin. The lower part of the head and body dusky brown with a suffusion of yellow. The caudal fin is yellow.
The juveniles are largely white with a grey back, a dark brown longitudinal stripe along the lateral line and two indistinct white spots on the back.
The maximum standard length recorded for this species is 25 cm (9.8 in) although 15 cm (5.9 in) is more typical.

Distribution

Lutjanus biguttatus is found in the Indo-Pacific region. It is distributed from the Maldives and Sri Lanka through the Andaman Sea and the Malay Archipelago east as far as the Solomon Islands, north as far as the Philippines and south to Australia, although there are records from farther east in Samoa, Fiji and the Caroline Islands.
In Australia it has been recorded in Western Australia from Hibernia Reef to the Scott Reef, the Ashmore Reef in the Coral Sea and off the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland.

Habitat

It is found at depths between 3 and 30 m (9.8 and 98.4 ft) on coral reefs.

Lutjanus biguttatum is an uncommon species but will gather in aggregations of over 100 individuals, although they are frequently encountered as solitary fish.

It is a predatory species which feeds largely on smaller fishes and crustaceans.