The biology of Western Samoan reef-slope snapper (Pisces: Lutjanidae) populations of: Lutjanus kasmira, Lutjanus rufolineatus, and Pristipomoides multidens
Mizenko D. 1984. The biology of Western Samoan reef-slope snapper (Pisces: Lutjanidae) populations of: Lutjanus kasmira, Lutjanus rufolineatus, and Pristipomoides multidens. University of Rhode Island
The biology of three snapper (Lutjanidae) populations of Western Samoa were investigated through the examination of fish caught by the commercial fishery. They were found to have: 1) been demersal on the outer reef-slope at night, 2) preyed on benthic and benthopelagic organisms, 3) extended spawning seasons, 4) lunar-monthly spawning periodicities, and 5) probably pelagic eggs and larvae. Lutjanus kasmira and Lutjanus rufolineatus had different nighttime distributions on the reef-slope. The two species of Lutjanus differed from Pristipomoides multidens, in that they: 1) ate primarily benthic organisms, 2) had extended depth ranges across the reef-slope, 3) spawned during autumn and winter at about full moon, and 4) probably live inshore as juveniles; whereas P. multidens: 1) depends largely on benthopelagic prey, 2) was restricted to deeper reef-slope waters, 3) spawned winter through summer at about the first quarter moon, and 4) may be pelagic as a juvenile.