The snappers (Pisces: Perciformes: Lutjanidae) of the Colombian Caribbean

Abstract

The fish of the Lutjanidae family or snappers are a very important fishing resource on the platforms of the Caribbean Sea and all tropical seas. Of the 17 species existing in Colombian Caribbean waters, 8 are closely associated with shallow reef formations, both rocky and coral; 7 of these 8 belong to the genus Lutjanus and the other is the yellowtail, Ocrysurus. The ojon (L. mahogoni), yellow (L. apodus), dog (L. jocu), prieto (L. griseus) and dienton (L. cyanopterus) snappers mainly inhabit these formations, although they can be found frequently in other fishing environments; while the cebao (L. analis) and Chinese (L. synagris) snappers are also very abundant on soft bottoms. In relatively deep rocky and / or sandy areas, below 30-50 meters, sessi (L. buccanella), red (L. purpureus), yellow-eye (L. vivanus), cunaro (Rhomboplites aurorubens) snappers are common. and the voracious panchito (Pristipomoides aquilonaris). Etelis oculatus, P. Freemani, P. Macrophthalmus and Apsilus dentatus, snappers that generally live at the lower end of the shelf (more than 100 m) and in restricted environments, have also been detected in our waters.