Red Mangrove Jack (Lutjanus Argentimaculatus)

Description

Mangrove Snapper have dark brown or gray with reddish or orange spots in rows along the sides and a dark horizontal band from snout through eye on young fish; two conspicuous canine teeth at front of upper jaw and the dorsal fins have dark or reddish borders with no dark spot on side underneath dorsal fin.

Mangrove Jacks (Lutjanus argentimaculatus) can grow up to 1 m and 12 Kg, but usually much smaller. They live in coastal swamp areas and lower river reaches, although has been found more than one hundered kilometres inland.

In Australia its range includes all northern coastal rivers systems from northern New South Wales, through Queensland, the Gulf of Carpentaria, the Northern Territory into Western Australia as far south as the Ashburton River System. Small mangrove jacks make very attractive and easy to keep aquarium fish. However, due to their aggressive nature, they should be kept alone.