Lutjanus purpureus

Lutjanus purpureus has a moderately deep, compressed body with a relatively short head which has a rounded dorsal profile. It has a short, rather blunt snout with two pairs of nostrils, both simple holes. It has a large eye and a weakly developed incision and knob on the serrated preoperculum. The vomerine teeth are arranged in a chevron or crescent shaped patch with a short rearwards extension. The dorsal fin contains 10 spines and 14 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 8-9 soft rays, the anal fin is pointed in individuals greater than 5 cm (2.0 in). The long pectoral fin extends as far as the anus and has 17 rays. The caudal fin strongly emarginate with its upper lobe being slightly longer than the lower lobe. This species attains a maximum total length of 100 cm (39 in), although 65 cm (26 in) is more typical, and a maximum published weight of 10 kg (22 lb). The back and upper flanks are deep red while the lower flanks and abdomen are pinkish, sheened with silver. The fins are largely red and there may be a small dark spot on the upper base of the pectoral fin. Juveniles have with a round black spot on the upper flanks underneath the front of the soft rayed part of the dorsal fin, as the fish grows this fades and eventually disappears.