The Common Bluestripe Snapper (Lutjanus kasmira) is a fish in the Lutjanidae family of snappers. It is also known as the Bluebanded Snapper, Fourline Snapper, Blue-Line Snapper, and Moonlighter.
The Common Bluestripe Snapper has an oval-shaped body with a steeply sloped head. The back and sides are bright-yellow, with the lower sides and underside of its head fading to white. It has four bright-blue longitudinal stripes. Its fins are yellow.
It grows to 40 centimetres (16 inches) long.
It is native to the Indian Ocean, off the coast of East Africa. It prefers tropical coral reefs and shallow lagoons. It also likes areas with seagrasses, caves, and shipwrecks.
It is carnivorous. It eats fish, shrimp, crabs, algae, and aquatic plants.
It is nocturnal, active mostly at night.
The Common Bluestripe Snapper is seen in schools, although larger fish are more solitary.
The female lays eggs and the male fertilizes them. After hatching, it takes about 60 days to reach the adult stage.
Location of photographs: Aquarium de Paris-Cinéaqua, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM