Two-spot Red Snapper

The two-spot red snapper, more widely known as the bohar snapper, is a large, powerful predator found across the Indo-Pacific from East Africa to the central Pacific. Its common name references two pale, saddle-like spots that can appear on the upper back, most noticeable in some individuals and often fading with age or mood, though many adults show little or no trace of the marking. This species is among the larger and more dominant reef-associated snappers, often occupying a top predator role on coral reef slopes and drop-offs. It is known to form large spawning aggregations at specific reef sites tied to lunar cycles, a behavior that has made aggregating populations particularly vulnerable to targeted fishing in parts of its range.

Look for a large, deep-bodied snapper in dusky reddish-brown to brick-red overall coloration, with a steep, humped forehead profile typical of larger Lutjanus species.

• Two faint pale saddle-like spots sometimes visible on the upper back, giving the species its common name
• Robust, muscular body shape
• Dark reddish fins
• Squared to slightly rounded tail fin The pale back spots, when present, are diagnostic, but many individuals lack visible spots, so overall body depth, dark coloration, and large size relative to most reef snappers are useful supporting features. It can be confused with other large reddish Lutjanus species lacking the characteristic dorsal spotting.

Two-spot red snapper range widely across the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East African coast through South and Southeast Asia to Australia, Micronesia, and the central Pacific. Adults are most commonly found along coral reef drop-offs, steep slopes, and channel edges, typically at depths from around 10 to 100 meters, favoring areas with strong current flow that concentrates prey. Juveniles tend to occupy shallower, more sheltered reef and lagoon habitat before moving to deeper slope and drop-off environments as adults. The species is known to gather in large spawning aggregations at specific, often predictable reef locations tied to seasonal and lunar cycles.

Two-spot red snapper are formidable predators, feeding on a wide range of prey including fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans, and are known to occasionally prey on smaller reef fish opportunistically at aggregation sites. Adults are often solitary or loosely associated during normal reef activity but form large, dense spawning aggregations at specific reef locations tied to lunar and seasonal cycles, a behavior well documented across parts of their range. These aggregations can involve hundreds to thousands of individuals gathering briefly to spawn, making them a spectacular but vulnerable natural event. Because of their size and predatory role, two-spot red snapper occupy an important position near the top of many Indo-Pacific reef food webs.