DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF TWO SPECIES OF RED 
SNAPPERS OF THE ATLANTIC COAST OF NORTH AMERICA 
& 
By 
Samuel F. Hildebrand, P. H. D., Director, United States Biological Station, Beaufort, N. C. 
and 
Isaac Ginsburg, Junior Aquatic Biologist, U. S. Bureau of Fisheries 
Some doubt exists as to the number of species of red snapper occurring in the 
tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and more than one species 
has been described. Some American authors, however, have claimed that only 
one species exists. 
The first account of which cognizance is to be taken under the international 
rules of scientific nomenclature of what appears to be a red snapper was published 
by Bloch.’ This description was based on that of Prince Marcgrave, whose fish 
was said to have been obtained in Brazil. This fish is reported to have been known 
at that time in Brazil under the common name of Acara aya, and Bloch gave it the 
scientific name Bodiarius aya. Just what this B. aya is is difficult to determine 
from the description, which seems to be inaccurate in some important details. 
This may perhaps be determined by a study of the fish called aya in Brazil, if it 
is still known there under that name. Most American authors, however, have 
come to regard this fish as identical with the common red snapper of the West 
Indies. This assumption may be allowed to stand until the contrary is proved. 
The question, however, remains. Is there only one species of red snapper in the 
Caribbean Sea, and is the red snapper from the Caribbean identical with the com- 
mon one from the Gulf of Mexico ? 
Poey i 2 described a species of red snapper, giving it the scientific name Meso- 
prion campechanus. It is not stated in the description where the specimen on 
which it is based was obtained. Judging from the description, this species differs 
from the common red snapper of Pensacola in having a larger eye, finer scales, 
and 8 instead of 9 soft rays in the anal. 
Cope 3 described a fish that may have been a red snapper, from the island of St. 
Kitts, under the name of Lutjanus torridus, but the description is not detailed 
enough to admit of ready identification, and until a careful comparative study of 
the type is made it is not possible to state which species this author had. 
i Bloch, Marc Elieser: Ichtyologie, ou Histoire Naturelle, gfinSrale et particuliere, des Poissons. Part VII, p. 33, PI. 
CCXXVII. 1797. A Berlin chez PAuteur. 
! Memorias sobre la historia natural de la isla de Cuba, Tome 2, 1856-1858 (1860), p. 149. Habana. 
3 Transactions, American Philosophical Society, new series, vol. 14, 1871, p. 468. 
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