Ornate Snapper, <i>Pristipomoides argyrogrammicus</i> Click to enlarge image
A 32.5mm TL Ornate Snapper, Pristipomoides argyrogrammicus, bought at Sydney Fish Market, July 2015. Image: Bernard Yau
© Bernard Yau

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Pristipomoides
    Species
    argyrogrammicus
    Family
    Lutjanidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 40 cm in length.

Introduction

The Ornate Snapper can be recognised by its distinctive colouration. It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific.

Identification

The Ornate Snapper can be recognised by its distinctive colouration. It is yellow above and silvery to pinkish below. There are bright blue spots and squiggles on the body. The upper part of the head is reddish and the dorsal and anal fins are yellowish.

Habitat

It usually occurs over rocky bottoms at depths between 70 m and 300 m.

Distribution

The Ornate Snapper is recorded from tropical marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific. In Australia it is known from off the central to north-western coast of Western Australia and from the northern Queensland coast south to the central coast of New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.


Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Economic impacts

The Ornate Snapper is a good eating fish that is usually caught on hook and line.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1985. Snappers of the World. An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Lutjanid Species Known to Date. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 6. FAO. Rome. Pp. 208, Pl. I-XXVII.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.