Glasseye snapper
Priacanthus cruentatus
(Lacepède, 1801)
Description:
Body varies from red to pale, silvery, mottled pink (P. cruentatus). Back always with silver bars, which may be faint (P. cruentatus 2).
Size up to 50.7 cm.
Habitat:
Common in lagoons and seaward reefs primarily around islands, down to 15 m. Nocturnal, feeding mainly on octopuses, pelagic shrimps, stomatopods, crabs, small fish and polychaetes. During the day usually singly or in small groups under or near ledges, but at dusk it may gather in large numbers.
Distribution:
Common to occasional Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean.
Remarks:
The related Bigeye (Priacanthus arenatus) never has silver bars.