Pristipomoides macrophthalmus (Müller & Troschel, 1848)
Cardinal snapper
Pristipomoides macrophthalmus
photo by FAO

Family:  Lutjanidae (Snappers), subfamily: Etelinae
Max. size:  50 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 110 - 550 m
Distribution:  Western Central Atlantic: Straits of Florida, Bahamas, Greater Antilles and the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua and Panama.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-11; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Interorbital space flat. Eye large. Snout short and blunt. Pectoral fins long reaching level of anus. Scale rows on back parallel to lateral line. Back and upper sides pink with a silvery sheen, grading to silvery ventrally; the fins are translucent to pink.
Biology:  Adults are most commonly found in deeper waters of the shelf near the edge of the continental slope. They feed on small fishes and larger planktonic animals. Marketed fresh.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 March 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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