(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species snapper, yellowtail
Species Id M010183
Date 26 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - snapper, yellowtail
OTHER COMMON NAMES - rabirrubia and vivaneau quaue jaune
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Fish
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - Chordata,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - Osteichthyes,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - Perciformes,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Lutjanidae,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Ocyurus,
SPECIES AND SSP - chrysurus,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Ocyurus chrysurus
AUTHORITY - Bloch
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 45
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species snapper, yellowtail
Species Id M010183
Date 26 AUG 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Sport Fish
Game (Consumptive Recreational)
Commercial
Existing, FMP exists
Commercial/consumption
REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 45
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
Yellowtail snapper compose a major portion of both the sport and commercial
catches of Florida's snapper fishery.*45*
Fishery management plans have been prepared for the reef fish resources
along the South Atlantic U.S. coast, which includes eastern Florida; and
the Gulf of Mexico, which includes Florida's west coast (South Atlantic
Fishery Management Council 1982; Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.
A recent survey indicated that in 1979 recreational fishermen caught about
4.6 million yellowtail and other snapper.*45*
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species snapper, yellowtail
Species Id M010183
Date 26 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Marine AB4
Marine FL2
Marine FL3
Marine RB.
Marine RF1
Marine RS.
Estuarine AB4
Estuarine FL2
Estuarine FL3
Estuarine RB.
Estuarine RF1
Estuarine RS.
REFERENCES FOR NWI - 45
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
Adult snappers generally live near coral reefs or other hard-bottom
features, and juveniles in inshore areas. Small adults tend to congregate near hard
bottoms, whereas mature adults tend to associate with reefs (natural and
artificial) in deeper offshore waters.*45*
Yellow-tail snapper are less associated with hard bottoms than the other
snappers; they are found on patch reefs and on the outer edges of deeper
coral reefs. Juveniles also live among grass beds and finger coral.*45*
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species snapper, yellowtail
Species Id M010183
Date 26 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
CARNIVORE
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 45
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
Adult Fish Adult stage
Adult Crustaceans Not Specified
Adult Molluscs Not Specified
Adult See Comments; Food
REFERENCES FOR ADULT FOOD - 45
COMMENTS ON FOOD -
Juvenile yellowtail snapper live primarily among seagrasses, but both
juveniles and adults often feed above the substrate. Studies have reported
that adults eat crabs (23.3% by volume), shrimp (16.2%), and fish (15.9%).
Off Cuba, yellowtail snapper stomach percent volumes consisted of fish
remains (53%), whole fish (32%), crustacean remains (10%), whole crustaceans
(7%) and mollusk remains (1%).*45*
COMMENTS ON ADULT FOOD -
Juvenile yellowtail snapper live primarily among seagrasses, but both
juveniles and adults often feed above the substrate. Studies have reported
that adults eat crabs (23.3% by volume), shrimp (16.2%), and fish (15.9%).
Off Cuba, yellowtail snapper stomach percent volumes consisted of fish
remains (53%), whole fish (32%), crustacean remains (10%), whole crustaceans
(7%) and mollusk remains (1%).*45*
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species snapper, yellowtail
Species Id M010183
Date 26 AUG 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
A Water Temperature: Specified in Comments
A Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Mud or silt
A Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Sand
A Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Rooted aquatic vegetation
A Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
Under laboratory conditions, the preferred upper tmeperature range for
juvenile yellowtail snapper was 24 to 30 degrees C, and the ultimate upper
lethal temperature was between 33.5 and 34 degrees C. The accclimation
temperature seemingly had no effect on the upper lethal temperature.*45*
From catch statistics, researchers reported depth distributions where large
numbers of adults were taken. Generally, larger snapper inhabit deeper
areas than smaller snapper, although there are many exceptions.*45*
COMMENTS ON ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
Under laboratory conditions, the preferred upper tmeperature range for
juvenile yellowtail snapper was 24 to 30 degrees C, and the ultimate upper
lethal temperature was between 33.5 and 34 degrees C. The accclimation
temperature seemingly had no effect on the upper lethal temperature.*45*
From catch statistics, researchers reported depth distributions where large
numbers of adults were taken. Generally, larger snapper inhabit deeper
areas than smaller snapper, although there are many exceptions.*45*
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species snapper, yellowtail
Species Id M010183
Date 26 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
MORPHOLOGY: Dorsal fin, 10 spiny rays, 12-14 soft rays; anal fin, 3 spiny
rays, 8-9 soft rays. Number of pored scales along lateral line, 48-49.
Number of gill rakers on first gill arch, 21-22. Body fusiform;
comparatively elongate dorsum only slightly elevated; nape to dorsal fin
gently curved. Head length 37% of SL, body depth 30% to 34% of SL. Snout
length 33% of head length, eye 20% of head length. Preorbital narrow, 15% of
head length at its narrowest width. Mouth in comparison with other snapper
small, oblique, the lower jaw projecting. Maxillary extending to front of
eye, 38% of head length. Upper jaws with a narrow band of villiform teeth
with five or six somewhat small canine teeth laterally. Lower jaw with
larger villiform teeth. Teeth on vomer in arrow-shaped patch with a medial
posteriorly directed projection. Preopercle weakly serrate, teeth at angle
also shallowly emarginate. Dorsal spines strong; fifth is longest, 42% of
head length. Dorsal fin not deeply emarginate. Caudal fin long, deeply
forked; upper lobe longer. Pectorals long, reaching anus; 83% of head
length. Third anal spine longer than second.*45*
REPRODUCTION: Yellowtail snappers spawn in groups, usually offshore. This
may indicate actual offshore movement during reproduction as suspected for a
number of other tropical reef-associated species, or part of a tendency for
larger, older (i.e., sexually mature) coastal fishes to occur in deeper
water than juveniles.*45*
Yellowtail snapper were sexually mature from March to May in nearshore areas
off Jamaica, but offshore they apparently spawned year round. Studies
indicated a decline in spawning activity among specimens caught during
November through Decemeber off Puerto Rico. Researchers reported that
yellowtail snapper females off Cuba had ripe gonads from March to
August.*45*
Age at maturation is apparently unknown for yellowtail snapper, and most
studies relate maturity to length.*45*
Fecundity estimates reported for yellowtail snapper vary widely. A partial reason
reason for this variation may be the relation between fecundity and fish
size.*45*
Little is known of lutjanid larvae, as they tend to be planktonic at a
length less than 10 mm TL.*45*
BEHAVIOR: Adult snapper tend to remain in an area once they become
established. Tagging studies indicate little movement by adult snapper;
Yellowtail snapper showed little movement 262 days after release.
Yellowtail snapper are semipelagic wanderers over the reef habitat.*45*
LIMITING FACTORS: Natural predators include sharks and other larger
predatory fishes, including other snapper species. Fishing mortality, as
well as inadvertent fishing mortality on juveniles caused by shrimp trawlers
over soft-bottom areas, accounts for a large proportion of their total
mortality.*45*
POPULATION ATTRIBUTES: The estimated range of maximum lengths for
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species snapper, yellowtail
Species Id M010183
Date 26 AUG 96
yellowtail snapper is 688-750mm.*45*
Scales, otoliths, and vertebrae have all been successfully used to
determine the age of snappers. There are apparent difficulties in
aging yellowtail snapper with otoliths. Researchers have found vertebrae to
be useful, however, and noted that two rings equaled one annulus.*45*
Growth rates determined from tagged-and-released snapper indicated that
growth is variable, probably being strongly influenced by local habitats and
their abundance of food. Researchers have found a growth rate in yellowtail
snapper of 3.3 mm/month.*45*
LIFE HISTORY CODES -
Breeding/Spawning Season: January
Breeding/Spawning Season: February
Breeding/Spawning Season: March
Breeding Spawning Season: April
Breeding/Spawning Season: May
Breeding/Spawning Season: June
Breeding/Spawning Season: July
Breeding/Spawning Season: August
Breeding/Spawning Season: September
Breeding/Spawning Season: October
Breeding/Spawning Season: November
Breeding/Spawning Season: December
Display Site: Water
REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 45
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species snapper, yellowtail
Species Id M010183
Date 26 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Existing Other management practices [specified in comments]
REFERENCES FOR EXISTING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 45
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Artificial reefs and other structures are suitable habitats for yellowtail
snapper.*45*
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species snapper, yellowtail
Species Id M010183
Date 26 AUG 96
References
*45* Bortone, S., J. Williams. 1986. Species Profiles: Life Histories
and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and
Invertebrates (South Florida) -- Gray, Lane, Mutton, and
Yellowtail Snappers. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biol. Rep.
82(11.52) pp 18.
References - 1