Ocyurus chrysurus
Reef-dwelling fish, yellowtail snappers are a common site on glass-bottom boat tours near Florida or Bermuda, where the younger ones hang out before they are big enough to head out to deeper waters. They tend to congregate in groups and love to eat seemingly anything and everything, including crabs, shrimp and other fish. They also are eaten by humans and some even keep them in very large aquariums.
What do yellowtail snappers look like? The yellowtail snapper has a distinctive yellow strip that runs from the mouth to the tail, becoming wider the further back it goes, and a yellow tail. It also has yellow spots above this strip. Otherwise, it is an olive to bluish color on its back and upper sides with the other fins yellow or pale in color. They grow up to 30 inches in length.
Are they nocturnal? Yes, they like to feed at night but I’ve seen them during the day on boat tours as well.
Freshwater or saltwater: Saltwater
What does a yellowtail snapper family look like? Eggs are released into the water and hatch after about 20 hours. The young fish use inshore sea grass beds for protection while they grow. They are considered to be adults when they reach lengths of about 10 to 12 inches, roughly around three years old. As adults, they will stay in one area for a long time and will congregate in small groups.
How long do they live? 6 to 14 years
Do they migrate? No
Do they form schools? Yes
Are they endangered? Likely no, but there’s no official classification for them.
What are their biggest threats? They have many predators, including sharks, barracuda, mackerel, other snappers and grouper. Humans also catch and eat them.
What else is interesting about yellowtail snappers? They are a popular fish food, high in niacin and vitamin B12. The yellowtail snapper statewide catch in Florida between 1987 and 2001 was 51.9 million pounds.
Where can I find out more about yellowtail snappers? A lot of websites with information on them are about fishing for them. Check out the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council for more details.
Sightings:
More about Yellowtail Snappers
Finn the Yellowtail Snapper page for kids
Blog page about yellowtail snappers