Species: Apsilus dentatus, Black Snapper

Apsilus dentatus Guichenot, 1853

Black Snapper

Body an elongate oval; convex between eyes; top jaw moderately protrusible, slips under cheek bone for most of its length when mouth is closed; jaws with distinct canines, teeth in an inner band of simple teeth and an outer row of conical teeth; front and sides of roof of mouth with small conical teeth; tooth patch on center of roof of mouth triangular or V shaped; no enlarged pores on chin; preoperculum serrated; gill rakers 22-24; dorsal fin continuous, not notched between spiny and soft parts, X, 10, occasionally 9; anal fin III, 8; last ray of dorsal and anal fins a little shorter than preceding ray; pectorals long, about 2/3 head length, 15-16 rays; scales medium-sized to small; body, cheek and operculum scaly; snout, below eye, lower jaw & rear of top jawbone scale-less; dorsal and anal fins scaleless; tubed lateral line scales 58-63.

Adult: Violet to brownish black, most intense on head; paler below. Juvenile: body bright blue; iris bronze, with black edge; fins brown to black, tail fin with pale rear edge, some fish with blue on fins.

Reaches 65 cm; 3.2 kg.

On hard bottoms.

Depth range: 12-300 m, usually below 40 m.

North Carolina to the S Caribbean.