Aaron Puckeridge, Australien
Info
Lutjanus fuscescens inhabits freshwater rivers and streams as well as brackish estuaries, sometimes it can also be found in coastal waters.
Juveniles are often found exclusively in freshwater upstream.
Juveniles do not appear to have special requirements for their nursery, occupying the same log habitats as adults and also using logs in shallower water, outside the depth range preferred by adults.
Analyses found that almost half of the Lutjanus fuscescens specimens analyzed in the rivers were freshwater, a quarter showed signs of residing in the upper brackish water areas of the estuaries, while another quarter (the so-called “seascape migrants”) undertook major migrations in the seascape throughout their lives.
The seascape migrants tended to be older fish (mean age: 10 years; range: 6-14 years), while the freshwater fish and freshwater brackishwater fish were younger (mean age: 7 years; range: 0+ to 12 years).
These fish spent most of their early life in freshwater or low salinity waters, after which they migrated downstream to higher salinity waters.
Analysis of stomach contents showed that Lutjanus fuscescens in feeds mainly on shrimp, smaller individuals (25 cm TL) also eat fish (~20 %) .
Other foods such as terrestrial insects and plant material were also consumed, but only by larger individuals (>35 cm TL).
Etymology: The species name “fuscescens” means dark.
The snapper is a highly sought-after sport fish for anglers!
We would like to thank Aaronn Puckeridge for the photo of the species, he took the photo in the waters around Vanuatu.
Synonyms:
Lutianus fuscescens (Valenciennes, 1830) · unaccepted
Mesoprion fuscescens Valenciennes, 1830 · unaccepted
Mesoprion hoteen Richardson, 1846 · unaccepted
Juveniles are often found exclusively in freshwater upstream.
Juveniles do not appear to have special requirements for their nursery, occupying the same log habitats as adults and also using logs in shallower water, outside the depth range preferred by adults.
Analyses found that almost half of the Lutjanus fuscescens specimens analyzed in the rivers were freshwater, a quarter showed signs of residing in the upper brackish water areas of the estuaries, while another quarter (the so-called “seascape migrants”) undertook major migrations in the seascape throughout their lives.
The seascape migrants tended to be older fish (mean age: 10 years; range: 6-14 years), while the freshwater fish and freshwater brackishwater fish were younger (mean age: 7 years; range: 0+ to 12 years).
These fish spent most of their early life in freshwater or low salinity waters, after which they migrated downstream to higher salinity waters.
Analysis of stomach contents showed that Lutjanus fuscescens in feeds mainly on shrimp, smaller individuals (25 cm TL) also eat fish (~20 %) .
Other foods such as terrestrial insects and plant material were also consumed, but only by larger individuals (>35 cm TL).
Etymology: The species name “fuscescens” means dark.
The snapper is a highly sought-after sport fish for anglers!
We would like to thank Aaronn Puckeridge for the photo of the species, he took the photo in the waters around Vanuatu.
Synonyms:
Lutianus fuscescens (Valenciennes, 1830) · unaccepted
Mesoprion fuscescens Valenciennes, 1830 · unaccepted
Mesoprion hoteen Richardson, 1846 · unaccepted
