Lutjanus monostigma

Lutjanus monostigma can reach a maximum length of 60 centimetres (24 in) in males, with a common length of 50 centimetres (20 in). The dorsal profile of head is gently to moderately sloped and adults are silvery white with yellow fins. These dark eyed fishes have 10 dorsal spines, 3 anal spines and very large canine teeth. They show a small black side spot (hence the common name) just below the dorsal fin. This spot usually disappears with age.[1][2][3] Flesh may cause ciguatera poisoning.[1]

Lutjanus monostigma

These snappers are nocturnal and usually solitary or occur in small groups. They feed mainly on fishes and crustaceans, especially crabs.[1]

This species is widespread in the Indo-Pacific from East Africa to the Marquesas Islands, Line Islands, the Ryukyu Islands and Australia.[1][4]

Adults live in coral reef areas, usually close to caves and coral formations, at depths between 1 and 60 meters.[1][5]

Drawing of One-spot snapper

• Allen, G.R., 1985. FAO species catalogue. Vol. 6. Snappers of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of lutjanid species known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(6):208 p.
• Fenner, Robert M .: The Conscientious Marine Aquarist. Neptune City, New Jersey, USA: TFH Publications, 2001.
• Helfman, G., B. Collette y D. Facey: The diversity of fishes. Blackwell Science, Malden, Massachusetts, USA, 1997.
• Hoese, D.F. 1986. A M. M. Smith y P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany.
• Mauge, L.A. 1986. J. Daget, JP Gosse y D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA).
• Moyle, P. y J. Cech .: Fishes: An Introduction to Ichthyology, fourth Ed., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, USA: Prentice-Hall. 2000.
• Nelson, J .: Fishes of the World, 3rd. edición. New York, USA: John Wiley and Sons. 1994.
• Wheeler, A .: The World Encyclopedia of Fishes, the second. Ed., London: Macdonald. 1985.

• NCBI
• Animal Diversity Web
• ITIS
• Photos of Lutjanus monostigma on Sealife Collection