Two-spot Red Snapper
Lutjanus bohar · lut-JAY-nus BOH-har
diurnalschoolsLeast Concern
EdibleUnfriendlyDangerousPoisonous
Superpower
Can live for half a century, accumulating toxins that make big ones risky to eat.
At a glance
- Size
- typically 60 cm, up to 90 cm
- Lifespan
- 30–55 years
- Depth
- 4–180 m
Habitat
Coral reefs and drop-offs.
Diet
Fish, crabs and other reef animals.
Can I eat it?
Yes — edible · tastiness 6/10.
How to cook: Sold as premium 'maya-maya', but a leading cause of ciguatera.
Safety
- Dangerous2/10
Mostly a danger on the plate rather than in the water.
- Poisonous6/10
One of the most common fish to carry dangerous ciguatera toxin.
Fun facts
- Two-spot red snapper is notorious for causing ciguatera fish poisoning.
- It can live more than 50 years.
- Juveniles mimic harmless damselfish to sneak up on prey.