LUTJANIDAE Lutjanus johnii, 22.1 cm SL (photo by Seishi Kimura) Lutjanus johnii (Bloch, 1792) John's Snapper D X, 13-14; A III, 8; P1 16-17; LLp 44-48; GR 6-8 + 9-12. Body moderately deep. Preopercular notch and knob poorly developed. Vomerine tooth patch crescentic, without a medial posterior extension. Caudal fin truncate or slightly emarginate. Scale rows on back parallel to lateral line. Color: generally yellow with a bronze to silvery sheen, grading to silvery white on belly; a round black spot, larger than eye, on back, mainly above lateral line (rarely absent in large adults). Size: maximum length about 70 cm. Distribution: widespread in the Indo-West Pacific from East Africa to the Fiji Islands. Remarks: occurring frequently in coral reef areas. Juveniles in brackish mangrove estuaries. Large adults trawled. Feeds on fishes and benthic invertebrates. Frequently found in markets. Caught mainly by hook and line, bottom longline. Excellent quality flesh, commonly marketed. (Yukio Iwatsuki)