Description:

The Black and White Snapper, Macolor niger, is a fascinating and economically important fish found in Queensland waters. Its striking juvenile coloration makes it a popular target for photographers and sometimes for the aquarium trade

Here’s a breakdown of Macolor niger:

1. Identification and Appearance:

• Juveniles: This is where the “black and white” name truly comes alive. Young Macolor niger exhibit bold, contrasting patterns of black and white stripes and spots. These patterns are highly variable between individuals, making each juvenile unique.
• Adults: As they mature, their appearance changes dramatically. Adults lose the stark black and white patterns and typically become a more uniform dark bluish-grey to black, often with a more subtle reticulated pattern of pale bluish lines on the head. They can grow quite large, up to 75 cm (almost 30 inches) in total length.

2. Habitat and Distribution:

• Geographic Range: Macolor niger is widely distributed across the Indo-West and Central Pacific. In Australia, it’s found off north-western Western Australia and, throughout the entire Great Barrier Reef in Queensland.
• Reef-Associated: They are typically found in coral reef environments.
• Depth: They inhabit depths ranging from shallow coastal waters (around 2 meters) down to about 90 meters.
• Behavior: Juveniles are often solitary and seek refuge in coral formations, sponges, or even crinoids. Adults, however, tend to form large schools, sometimes in mixed schools with the very similar Midnight Snapper (Macolor macularis), usually on steep outer reef slopes, channels, and seaward reefs.

3. Diet:

• Unique Snappers: Unlike many other snapper species that are primarily piscivores (fish-eaters), adult Macolor niger are unique in their feeding strategy. They have many long gill rakers, which they use to sieve zooplankton from the water column.
• Additional Prey: They also supplement their diet by preying on smaller fish and crustaceans. Juveniles primarily feed on zooplankton.

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