Snapper is any of dozens of species of food fishes that live in tropical parts of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The snappers of the Western Hemisphere are most common around Florida, the West Indies and the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean region. In the Pacific, they live chiefly around the tropical coral atolls and the East Indies and Philippines. They live rather close to shore, usually in rocky places.
Loading the player...School of snappers
Snappers grow 2 to 3 feet (60 to 90 centimeters) long. They have a high, almost humped, back and are rather flat from side to side. The mouth is large, with strong teeth. The tail is slightly forked. Snappers may be red, greenish, or striped. They often have a black spot on each side of the body. Some snappers, especially the larger species, may become toxic. Eating them can cause a sometimes fatal disease called ciguatera.
