Pagrus auratus
| Australasian snapper | |
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| Australasian snapper, Pagrus auratus, at Melbourne Aquarium. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Sparidae |
| Genus: | Pagrus |
| Species: | P. auratus |
| Binomial name | |
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Pagrus auratus (Forster, 1801) |
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| Distribution | |
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| Global harvest in thousand tonnes | |
| Synonyms | |
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Chrysophrys auratus (Forster, 1801) |
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Chrysophrys auratus (Forster, 1801)
The Australasian snapper or silver seabream, Pagrus auratus, is a species of porgie found in coastal waters of Australia, Philippines, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, Japan and New Zealand. Its distribution areas in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are disjunct. Although it is almost universally known in Australian and New Zealand as snapper, it does not belong to the Lutjanidae family of snappers. It is highly prized as an eating fish.
The taxonomic status of this species is being debated, and it may be referred to as either Pagrus auratus or Chrysophrys auratus.
Australia: cocknies (young smaller than legal size), red bream or pinkies (legal size), squire or squirefish (when bigger), snapper (at full size)
Western Australia: "pink snapper" to distinguish it from unrelated species
Victoria: also schnapper (ref: Schnapper Point, Mornington)
South Australia: the name "ruggers" is often used for smaller fish of legal size
Aboriginal people of the Port Jackson area in Australia: they called it wollamie (also spelt wollamai, and other variations). European colonists there knew it as the "light horseman", for the resemblance of the fish's skull to the helmet of a light horseman.
New Zealand: snapper (or New Zealand snapper when there is need to distinguish from other species of snapper). New Zealand Māori: tamure (adult fish), karati (juveniles)
The Australasian snapper is found on all coasts of New Zealand, especially in the north. In Australia, it is found along the south coast, mainly near Kiama, Berry, Gerringong, Gerroa, Huskisson, Vincentia, and Shoalhaven. It is also found on the coast of Tasmania, but in smaller numbers. The fish spawn in inshore waters and live in rocky areas and reefs of up to 200 m deep. They school, and will migrate between reefs. Larger fish are known to enter estuaries and harbours, for example Port Phillip Bay has a renowned seasonal snapper run.
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Wikipedia