Australasian snapper or silver seabream
Scientific name: Chrysophrys auratus. Formerly Pagrus auratus.
Rather confusingly the Australasian snapper is not a species of snapper (Lutjanidae). Its alternative common name, the silver seabream, is a little more helpful as it does belong to the Sparidae, or seabream, family. In Australia and New Zealand they are often simply known as snapper. Australasian snapper all start out as females, some changing to males as they grow. They are a long-lived species; individuals can exceed 40 years of age.
Distribution
Australasian snapper occur as far north as Taiwan and the adjacent Chinese mainland coast, and as far south as New Zealand South Island. Westward they can be found as far as Indonesia; and as far east as the Chatham Islands.
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