Fish Identification Photos: Colorado Snapper, Lutjanus colorado: The Colorado Snapper is a rare member of the Lutjanidea or Snapper Family, which are known in English as "snappers" and in Mexico as "pargos."

The Colorado Snapper is characterized by a predominately deep red body, pink on the belly, scale rows parallel to the lateral line, and a short blue streak under their eyes. Juvenile Colorado Snapper are barred.

The Colorado Snapper is normally found as a solitary fish, in the first 150 feet of the water column, in or adjacent to rocky reefs. It reaches a maximum length of just over 3 feet.

The Colorado Snapper is found in all Mexican waters, including along the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula, throughout the Sea of Cortez, and along the coast of mainland Mexico south to Guatemala. However, it appears to be absent from about the oceanic islands.

The Colorado Snapper is quite similar and can be easily confused with three other snapper species: Jordan’s Snapper (green to dark olive color that quickly darkens upon collection); the Red Snapper (red to pink coloration, with oblique scale lines above the lateral line); and the Yellow Snapper (long blue horizontal streak under the eyes).

Colorado Snapper, Lutjanus colorado: Photo courtesy Peter Langstraat.