Red snapper

Red snapper usually refers to the northern red snapper (*Lutjanus campechanus*), a reef-associated marine fish in the family Lutjanidae.

Red snapper usually refers to the northern red snapper (*Lutjanus campechanus*), a reef-associated marine fish in the family Lutjanidae. The common name is also used for several other snapper species in different regions. The northern red snapper is an important commercial and recreational fish in the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

Taxonomy and naming

Red snapper is a common name used for several snapper species worldwide, but in the United States it most often refers to the northern red snapper, *Lutjanus campechanus*. The species belongs to the family Lutjanidae.

Distribution and habitat

Northern red snapper occur in the western Atlantic from the Gulf of Mexico and southeastern United States south to northern South America, with records extending along parts of the eastern coast of North America. Adults are associated with reefs and other hard structure, while juveniles occupy shallow soft-bottom areas.

Biology and feeding

Red snapper are bottom-oriented predators. Their diet includes fish, crustaceans, squid, molluscs, and other benthic organisms, and juveniles also feed on zooplankton and small prey.

Fisheries and management

The species is heavily used in commercial and recreational fisheries, especially in the Gulf of Mexico. NOAA reports the Gulf stock is not overfished, while the South Atlantic stock is overfished but under rebuilding measures.