''Lutjanus decussatus'', the checkered snapper, checkered seaperch or cross-hatched snapper, is a species marine
ray-finned fish belonging to the
family Lutjanidae. It is native to the western Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Taxonomy
''Lutjanus decussatus'' was first formally
described as ''Mesoprion decussatus'' in 1828 by the
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
zoologist Georges Cuvier with the
type locality given as
Java in Indonesia.
The
specific name Specific name may refer to:
* in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database
In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules:
* Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...
''decussatus'' means "divided crosswise in the form of an X", a reference to the checkered pattern on the body of this species made by five horizontal red bands crossed by seven vertical brown bands.
Description
''Lutjanus decussatus'' has a moderately deep body with a depth which is between a quarter and a third of its standard length with a moderately sloped upper profile to the head. The
preoperculum
This glossary of ichthyology is a list of definitions of terms and concepts used in ichthyology, the study of fishes.
A
B
C
...
has a weak knob and notch. The vomerine teeth are arranged in a crescent-shaped patch with no rearwards extension and there is a patch grain-like teeth on its tongue.
The
dorsal fin has 10 spines and 13-14 soft rays while the
anal fin
Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as se ...
contains 3 spines and 8-9 soft rays.
[ The rear part of the dorsal fin and the anal fin have a rounded shape.][ The maximum total length recorded for this species is although is more typical.][ This species has an overall colour of whitish to pale greyish brown to reddish-brown stripes and bars creating a checkered pattern on the upper flanks, and they have a large black spot on the base of the caudal fin.][ They have pale coloured fins and a red submarginal stripe on the caudal fin.]
Distribution and habitat
''Lutjanus decussatus'' is found in the Indo-West Pacific region. Its range extends from Sri Lanka and eastern India east to Micronesia, north to the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan and south to Australia.[ In Australia this species is found at the Dampier Archipelago and the offshore reefs of northern Western Australia, at the Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea, and the northern Great Barrier Reef off Queensland.][ Juveniles are found on sheltered reef flats.][
]
Biology
''Lutjanus decussatus'' adults may be solitary or live in small schools.[ They feed on fishes and crustaceans.][ Off Okinawa this species spawned during June and October, the spawning events being determined by lunar cycles.]
Fisheries
''Lutjanus decussatus'' is taken by subsistence fisheries which catch it with handlines, traps and gill nets, it is not very important to commercial fisheries, although it is taken by these fisheries in some parts of its range such as the Ryukyu Islands.. Small numbers sometimes appear in the aquarium
An aquarium (plural: ''aquariums'' or ''aquaria'') is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aq ...
trade.[
]
References
External links
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1042072
decussatus
Fish of Indonesia
Fish of Thailand
Fish of Sri Lanka
Fish of New Guinea
Marine fish of Northern Australia
Fish described in 1828
Taxa named by Georges Cuvier