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Snappers and Bogas
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Hawaii has only four true snappers at normal diving depths, two
of which were introduced from French Polynesia in the 1950's. An additional seven
deepwater snappers are illustrated here in addition to a snapper-like relative of the Boga
family. The Bigeye Emperor is a deep-bodied snapper relative that is frequently seen over
coral reefs. Snappers are excellent food fishes and important to local fisheries.
Deepwater snapper stocks have been threatened by overfishing and competition with
the now-abundant Bluestripe Snapper.
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Hawaii's Deepwater Snappers

HAWAII
Family Emmelichthyidae
Bogas
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Bogas are snapper-like in appearance but lack prominent conical
teeth and the scales are small. They are quite rare in local catches and the flesh
is soft.
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Erythrocles scintillans
YELLOW or GOLDEN KALEKALE Hawaii-chibiki
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Slender orange body with a pointed snout, granular teeth and
large eyes; fins bright yellow. Attains 15 inches and 2 pounds. Rare around the island of Hawaii at depths of 300 to 800 feet.
Hawaii, Okinawa, Ogasawara, Society Islands. |

Family Lutjanidae
Snappers
SHALLOW WATER SNAPPERS
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These species may be seen by scuba divers
around the Hawaiian Islands and throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
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Aphareus furca
Puako, Hawaii, 60 feet |
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SMALLTOOTH JOBFISH or BIGMOUTH SNAPPER
WAHANUI
Ishi-fuedai
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Steel gray to dark brown with a yellow area on forehead during
courtship. Attains 15 inches but usually less than 12. Shorter, deeper body than Uku and Lehi.
Often causes Ciguatera poisoning. Hawaii & the
Indo-Pacific. |

Aprion virescens
Lanai Lookout, Oahu, 60 feet |
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GREEN JOBFISH or GRAY SNAPPER UKU
Ao-chibiki
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Fusiform body with a large tapering head. Gray with greenish yellow markings, dark dorsal fin membranes.
Attains 40 inches and 37 pounds. Most common during summer, from 25 to 300 feet.
Has tasty light flesh. Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific. |

Lutjanus fulvus
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 20 feet
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Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet |
Juvenile, Haleiwa Harbor, Oahu, 10 feet
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Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 15 feet |
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 15 feet |
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BLACKTAIL SNAPPER TO'AU
Oki-fuedai
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Introduced to Hawaii from Mo'orea in 1956. Frequent in murky bays and harbors.
Attains 13 inches. Indo-Pacific. |

Lutjanus kasmira
Electric Beach, Oahu, 20 feet
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Electric Beach, Oahu, 20 feet |
Fish Hole, Midway Atoll, 25 feet
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Fish Hole, Midway Atoll, 25 feet |
Fish Hole, Midway Atoll, 25 feet
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Fish Hole, Midway Atoll, 25 feet |
Fish Hole, Midway Atoll, 25 feet
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Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 15 feet |
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 15 feet |
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BLUESTRIPE SNAPPER TA'APE
Yosuji-fuedai
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Introduced to Hawaii from the Marquesas Islands in 1958.
Abundant, forming large schools by day and foraging at night. Ranges from shallow scuba depths to 1000 feet.
Feeds upon young Kona Crab, crustaceans and small
fishes, competing with native species. Indo-Pacific. |

DEEPWATER SNAPPERS
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It is practically impossible to see these
fishes without a diving submersible or catching them by hook & line. Photos of
these deepwater snappers were taken by supporting the fish on one side with a pole spear
anchored in the reef. Mahalo to Guy at Tamashiro Market for finding the finest
quality specimens.
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Etelis carbunculus
YELLOWSTRIPED RED SNAPPER 'EHU
Hachijo-akamutsu
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Stout head with five conical teeth on each side of upper jaw.
Prominent yellow lateral stripe, eyes large. Inhabits deep reefs from 600 to 1000 feet.
A voracious predator of small fish & crustaceans. Attains 3 feet and at least 10 pounds.
Stocks around the Main Hawaiian Islands are heavily depleted.
Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific. |
Etelis coruscans
LONGTAILED RED SNAPPER 'ULA'ULA
or ONAGA Hamadai
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Fusiform body with pointed snout, large eyes, and deeply
forked tail with long extensions. Inhabits deep reefs from 600 to at least 1000 feet.
Feeds at night upon small fish & crustaceans. Attains 4 feet and at least 28 pounds.
The most valuable snapper for flesh quality and appearance. Hawaii
& the Indo-Pacific. |
Randallichthys filamentosus
RANDALL'S SNAPPER
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Fusiform with pointed snout, dark orange with yellow fins.
Similar in habit and appearance to Onaga and 'Ehu. Very rare at depths of 300 to 750 feet.
World record is 38 inches and 27 pounds. Okinawa to Guam and
Hawaii, New Caledonia to Tahiti. |
Aphareus rutilans
LONGTAILED PINK SNAPPER LEHI
O'oguchi-ishichibiki
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Tail deeply forked; mouth large with angular lower jaw.
Dull brick red with silver below. Inhabits deep reefs from 350 to 600 feet.
Uncommon around Maui & the Big Island of Hawaii. Feeds primarily upon fishes and some crustaceans.
Attains 3 feet and 32 pounds. Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific. |

Pristipomoides filamentosus
PINK SNAPPER 'OPAKAPAKA
O'ohime
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Robust fusiform body with bluntly rounded head, large mouth,
purplish brown color. Inhabits deep reefs and feeds over open areas from 250 to 750
feet. Feeds upon pelagic tunicates, small fishes and crustaceans in
the water column. The most common snapper on restaurant menus. Similar in appearance to the Kalekale.
Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific. |
Kalekale (top) and 'Opakapaka |

Pristipomoides sieboldii
SMALLMOUTH PINK SNAPPER KALEKALE
Himedai
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Body fusiform, head blunt, eyes large, mouth small and
strongly angled upward. Purplish brown with wavy blue lines, pectoral fins and tail
reddish. Attains 2 feet and at least 5 pounds. Inhabits deep reefs from 450 to 850 feet; stocks are low.
Feeds upon small fishes & zooplankton. Less common than 'Opakapaka, with drier flesh.
Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific. |

Pristipomoides zonatus
BANDED PINK SNAPPER 'UKIKIKI or GINDAI
Shima-chibiki
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Deep bodied, with pink and yellow bands. Quite rare at depths of 450 to 750 feet.
Attains 16 inches and several pounds. Hawaii & the
Indo-Pacific. |
INDO-PACIFIC
Symphorichthys spilurus
Waikiki Aquarium
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SAILFIN SNAPPER
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Uncommon over sand near reefs. Filaments absent
in large adults. Attains 24 inches. Indonesia to Okinawa,
Palau, and New Caledonia. |
TROPICAL EASTERN PACIFIC
Lutjanus argentiventris
Cabo Pulmo, Baja California, Mexico, 50 feet
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YELLOW SNAPPER
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Inhabits rocky reefs to 300 feet. Attains 26
inches. Southern California to Peru. |
Lutjanus
viridis
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico, 30 feet
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BLUE & GOLD SNAPPER
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Forms aggregations on rocky reefs. Attains 12
inches. Southern tip of Baja California to Ecuador. |
TROPICAL WESTERN ATLANTIC
Ocyurus chrysurus
YELLOWTAIL SNAPPER
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Abundant in the water column above reefs where it
feeds upon zooplankton. Attains 28 inches. Massachusetts to
Bermuda & Brazil. |
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