SNAPPERS OF GULF OF MEXICO 
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through origin of anal. Length of ventral 1.82 in head, its origin under lower angle of base of 
pectoral, its tip falling short of arms by a distance equal to one-half diameter of eye. Origin of 
anal under base of first dorsal soft ray, its posterior angle under eleventh dorsal soft ray, length 
of its base 2.8 in head; posterior outline rounded; third soft ray longest, 2.7; second spine 3.95; 
third spine subequal to second, 3.90 in head. 
Color in fresh condition ( iced specimen ). — Ground color of body light red, more intense above 
shading to lighter below, centers of scales a much lighter pink. Tail with a broad marginal band 
of yellow washed with reddish, interrupted in middle by continuation of the predominating red 
color of rest of tail. On one side the broad marginal interrupted band of yellow, preceded by a 
definite band of red of a more intense color than base of tail, which is red lightly washed and 
blended with yellow. Anal and ventral red irregularly margined and washed with yellow. Dorsal 
red washed and margined with yellow and irregularly shaded with bluish. Pectoral red mingled with 
yellow above, light pink below. Base of pectoral black, a wide, somewhat diffuse black blotch 
behind and a narrower curved jet black band in front. A dark diffuse band on the scales covering base 
of soft dorsal, gradually fading out under spinous dorsal, the band consisting of purplish blue and 
black pigment mixed with the red ground color. No black lateral spot. Pupil dark blue; iris 
pinkish yellow on one side and reddish orange on the other. According to Poey, the young, up to 
Figure 2 . — Lutianus buccanella. From a specimen 52 centimeters (20.5 inches) total length, brought in by the snapper 
fishermen in a sea going schooner and taken in the Gulf of Mexico, exact locality not being known. Drawn by 
Miss Lonella E. Cable. 
about 6 or 7 inches, have the caudal peduncle yellow above. In the large specimen at hand this part 
was of the same color as the rest of the body. 
After being in alcohol nearly all of the bright red and yellow pigments have disappeared. 
The black at the base of the pectoral and the diffuse dark band at the base of the posterior part of 
the dorsal persist. 
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 
It is used for food when captured, and its flesh is well liked. It is, however, usually 
not as common as blackfordii and vivanus, although it is reported to be common in 
the market at times. Cuvier and Valenciennes report a weight as high as 20 pounds, 
but the average is much less, and the species does not seem to attain to the size of 
the red snapper. 
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT 
This is another species of snapper of a predominating red color which occurs 
in deep water like blackfordii. It is taken on rocky bottom, but its range is appar- 
ently in deeper water. It has been previously reported from various islands bordering 
