Cubera Snapper (Lutjanus cyanopterus)

The largest of all the snapper and a member of the Lutjanidae family, the cubera is a hard-fighting gamefish, as well as a fine food fish in smaller sizes.

Other Names

Cuban snapper; Spanish: cubera, guasinuco, pargo cabalo, pargo cubera.

Identification

The head, the body, and the fins of the cubera snapper are silver or steely gray to dark brown, with an occasional reddish tinge; the body is darker above than
below, sometimes with a purplish sheen.

Gray Snapper (Lutjanus griseus)

A member of the Lutjanidae family of snapper and important commercially, the gray snapper is a good gamefish and also an excellent food fish. It is commonly referred to as the mangrove snapper.

Other Names

mangrove snapper; French: sarde grise, vivaneau sarde grise; Portuguese: caranha, castanhola, luciano; Spanish: caballerote, pargo manglero, pargo prieto.

Lane Snapper (Lutjanus synagris)

The lane snapper is a member of the Lutjanidae family of snapper and highly regarded as a food fish.

Other Names

Portuguese: areocó; Spanish: bia-jaiba, chino, machego, pargo biajaiba, pargo guanapo, rayado, villajaiba.

Identification

The lane snapper is silvery pink to reddish, with short, somewhat parallel pink and yellow stripes on its sides; there is often a faint greenish cast to the back and the upper sides, which sometimes highlights a few light olive bands.

Mutton Snapper (Lutjanus analis)

The mutton snapper is a member of the Lutjanidae family of snapper. It is an excellent food fish, often marketed as "red snapper".

Other Names

Portuguese: cioba; Spanish: pargo cebalo, pargo cebal, pargo colorado, pargo criollo, pargo mulato.

Identification

The mutton snapper can be striking in appearance, varying from orangish to reddish-yellow or reddish-brown, or from silver-gray to olive green on the back and the upper sides. All fins below the lateral line have a reddish cast, and larger mutton snapper take on an overall reddish color, which causes them to be confused with red snapper.

Pacific Cubera Snapper (Lutjanus novemfasciatus)

The Pacific cubera snapper closely resembles the cubera snapper, the "river" or "mangrove red" snapper, and an African snapper; this resemblance involves habitat and behavior but extends as well to a similar appearance; they each have a deep reddish body, four large canine teeth, stubby gill rakers, and almost identical body and fin shapes.

This seems to suggest that large cubera-type snappers may be more closely related to each other than are other members of the Lutjanidae (snapper) family. Marketed fresh and frozen, the Pacific cubera snapper is an excellent food fish and is greatly prized as a sport catch.

Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus)

A member of the Lutjanidae family of snapper, the red snapper is a valued sport and commercial catch; it has been severely overfished in American waters and is now closely protected.

Other Names

American red snapper, northern red snapper, mutton snapper; Portuguese: vermelho; Spanish: guachinango del Golfo, pargo colorado, pargo de Golfo.

Yellowtail Snapper (Ocyrus chrysurus)

The yellowtail snapper is a member of the Lutjanidae family of snapper, a colorful tropical reef fish, and an excellent sportfish with superb meat.

Other Names

Creole: colas; French: sarde queue jaune; Portuguese: cioba, mulata; Spanish: rabirrubia.