Fish
Yellowtail Snapper
Ocyurus chrysurusAlso known as Rabirrubia, Yellowtail
Yellowtail snappers form loose, active schools that drift high above tropical reefs, instantly identifiable by their bright yellow lateral stripe and deeply forked yellow tail. Unlike many bottom-dwelling snappers, they spend much of their adult lives hunting in the midwater column, feeding voraciously on zooplankton, small fishes, and pelagic invertebrates. During summer full moons, large aggregations gather over outer reef drop-offs to spawn, releasing millions of buoyant eggs into ocean currents.
Reef DwellerSchoolingCarnivorous
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyMysid Shrimp, Anchovies, Crab Larvae
Predators
- Great Barracuda
- Caribbean Reef Shark
- Goliath Grouper
ThreatsOverfishing, coral reef degradation, and marine pollution
HabitatsCoral reefs, patch reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds
Life span10–14 years
Classification
- OrderPerciformes
- FamilyLutjanidae
- GenusOcyurus
- SpeciesOcyurus chrysurus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Snorkeling Observation: Approach schooling adults calmly along reef edges, as sudden splashing scatters the group.
- Fishing Ethics: Follow local size and bag limits closely to support sustainable breeding stocks.
Predator Hectonichus / CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Same Family (c) cello caruso-turiello, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by cello caruso-turiello · cc-by
Same Family (c) LASZLO ILYES, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Same Family (c) Pauline Walsh Jacobson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Pauline Walsh Jacobson · cc-by
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