mutton snapper
VU

mutton snapper

Lutjanus analis

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutton_snapper

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The mutton snapper faces severe pressure from commercial and recreational fishing throughout its range, with populations declining by over 30% in recent decades. Juvenile recruitment has been particularly impacted by the destruction of critical nursery habitats, especially seagrass beds and mangrove systems in shallow coastal waters. The species' slow growth rate and late sexual maturity make it especially vulnerable to overfishing, as populations cannot recover quickly from exploitation.

Threat summary

Habitat

Mutton snappers inhabit coral reefs, rocky bottoms, and adjacent sandy areas in depths ranging from shallow waters to 300 feet, with juveniles relying heavily on seagrass beds and mangrove creeks as nursery areas. Adults are typically found around offshore reefs and rocky ledges throughout the tropical western Atlantic, from Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to Brazil.

MARINE· major

Threatened in Antigua & Barbuda

CR

Alsophis antiguae

Increasing
Keeled SkimmerVU

Keeled Skimmer

Orthetrum coerulescens

Unknown
softshell crabVU

softshell crab

Callinectes sapidus

Unknown
Great Land CrabVU

Great Land Crab

Cardisoma guanhumi

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is mutton snapper classified as Vulnerable?
mutton snapper is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The mutton snapper faces severe pressure from commercial and recreational fishing throughout its range, with populations declining by over 30% in recent decades. Juvenile recruitment has been particularly impacted by the destruction of critical nursery habitats, especially seagrass beds and mangrove systems in shallow coastal waters. The species' slow growth rate and late sexual maturity make it especially vulnerable to overfishing, as populations cannot recover quickly from exploitation.
Where does mutton snapper live?
mutton snapper occurs in Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, and Brazil (plus 34 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to mutton snapper?
The main threats to mutton snapper are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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