It's back to school time, and our August Fish of the Month is the Schoolmaster, Lutjanus apodus!
Survey Regions: Schoolmasters are common throughout REEF's Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA) survey region, and can also be found as far north as Massachusetts and as far south as Brazil. Click here to see a distribution report for this species in the TWA region.
Size: They can be 10-18 inches long and grow to a maximum of 2 feet.
Identifying Features: Schoolmasters are silver to gray and may have a yellow or reddish tint. Their fins are yellow and they can display vertical bars on their back. They also have visible teeth.
Fun Facts: Schoolmasters are in the Snapper family. They can often be seen drifting in groups near sea fans or coral heads, sometimes mixing with other Snapper or Grunt species. Juveniles can be seen in shallow bays or mangrove areas.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for our next Fish of the Month.
Photo by Janna Nichols.