Nature Field Guide
Spotted Rose Snapper
- Spanish name
- Pargo de la mancha
- Scientific name
- Lutjanus guttatus
What Do Pico & Tati Think?
Meet the fish Yeyo shares with Pico and Tati. Spotted rose snapper lives in the eastern Pacific, including Costa Rica’s coastal waters. Look for a silvery-pink body, fine slanting golden-brown stripes and a dark blotch below the dorsal fin.
This fish eats crustaceans and small fish. Researchers in Costa Rica’s Gulf of Nicoya have studied its diet and its role in local fishing. It connects an underwater food web with the meals coastal families prepare and share.
In our story, Yeyo names his catch before lunch. Tati notices the spot, and Pico learns that there is more to discover about a fish than how delicious it smells.
Identification
Key Features of the Spotted Rose Snapper
A moderately deep, oval body with a silvery-pink sheen.
Fine oblique golden-brown stripes along the sides.
A prominent dark blotch high on the side beneath the dorsal fin; the mark can change in intensity.
A continuous dorsal fin and a nearly straight or slightly indented tail.
Habitat & range
Pacific coastal waters, including sandy bays and reef-associated habitats. Young fish often use shallow sandy bays.
Local observations
Documented along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast and in the Gulf of Nicoya. This card is not assigned to a particular town or beach.
When to observe
The species is present year-round. Underwater visibility and local conditions affect observation; a sighting is never guaranteed.
Conservation & care
Keep fishing line and plastic out of the sea. Observe fish without feeding or chasing them. If your family fishes, follow current local rules and learn from a responsible local fisher.
Observation activity
Use the illustration and a species photograph to find the dark spot, dorsal fin and tail. Draw your own snapper and label three clues. Ask someone in your family which fish they know by name.
Explore by location
Central Pacific · Guanacaste · Oceanic Pacific · Puntarenas & the Gulf Islands · South Pacific · Ocean & Coastal Life · Wildlife & Animals