Lutjanus russellii

Lutjanus russellii was first formally described in 1849 as Mesoprion russellii by the Dutch physician, herpetologist and ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker with the type locality given as Jakarta, Java in Indonesia. The specific name honours Patrick Russell the Scottish surgeon and herpetologist who described and depicted, without naming, this species in 1803. Within the genus Lutjanus, L. russellii is closest to the Indian Ocean L. Indicus. ==Description==

Lutjanus russellii has a moderately deep body to slender, its standard length being 2.6-2.8 times its depth. The forehead can be steep or moderately sloped and the knob and incision on the preopercle are poorly developed. The vomerine teeth are arranged in a triangular patch with a rearwards extension or in a rhombus and there is a patch of tiny teeth on the tongue. The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 14 soft rays and the anal fin has 3 spines and 8 soft rays, Juveniles are white in colour with four brown to blackish longitudinal stripes along the flanks, although these may be interrupted, and a horizontally-elongated black spot or ocellus on the lateral line. ==Distribution and habitat==

Lutjanus russellii is found mainly in the western Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of Thailand and Sumatra east to Tonga, north to southern Japan and south to Australia. In Australian waters this species is found from Shark Bay and the offshore reefs in Western Australia, at Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea, round the northern and eastern coasts as far south as Wollongong and maybe to Jervis Bay in New South Wales. This species is found at depths between on offshore coral reefs as well as inshore rocky and coral reefs. The juveniles inhabit mangrove lined estuaries and the lower parts of freshwater streams. ==Biology==

Lutjanus russellii is a predatory fish which preys on benthic fishes and invertebrates. They reach sexual maturity at fork length, when they are about 4 years of age. The average longevity is around 17 years. ==Fisheries==

Lutjanus russellii is a target species for artisanal fisheries and is frequently sold in fish markets wherever it occurs. Fishers catch it using handlines, traps and bottom trawls. It is also taken live and sold within the Hong Kong live fish trade. This species is also extensively cultured in aquaculture. ==References==