Fishes of Hawai'i 

Family Lutjanidae - snappers

Lutjanus fulvus - Blacktail snapper - To'au
Description: dark red tail, tanish or yellowish body (looks grayish underwater), no stripes
Size: to 33 cm, but usually smaller
Habitat: usually a solitary species that stays close to the bottom; juveniles can be found in brackish waters
Diet: carnivore: primarily a nocturnal feeder; small crustaceans, crabs and small fishes Note: this species was introduced from Moorea to Hawai'i in 1956

Lutjanus kasmira - Bluestripe snapper - Ta'ape
Description: yellow body with 4 thin blue horizontal stripes
Size: usually 25 cm
Habitat: common reef fish found from shallow to very deep waters; aggregates during the day but is primarily nocturnal
Diet: carnivore: crustaceans: crabs and shrimps and small fishes Note: this species was introduced from the Marquesas to Hawai'i in 1958

Last update: 1/25/2005