The common bluestripe snapper (Lutjanus kasmira) is a reef fish that is easily recognized by its yellow body crossed by four bright blue stripes. It lives in tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific and often forms large gatherings around reefs.

The common bluestripe snapper mainly lives on coral reefs and can be found in shallow lagoons as well as on outer reef slopes. During the day, it often stays grouped near coral formations, caves, and shipwrecks.

The common bluestripe snapper has a fairly stocky body, with a bright yellow back and sides. The underside of the body and head is white. Four bright blue stripes run lengthwise along its sides. Its fins are yellow, and its caudal fin is slightly notched.

The common bluestripe snapper averages 10 inches in length, but the largest individuals can reach up to 16 inches.

The common bluestripe snapper inhabits tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and the coasts of East Africa to the Marquesas Islands and the Line Islands, and from southern Japan to Australia.

The common bluestripe snapper mainly lives on coral reefs. It inhabits shallow lagoons and outer reef slopes and can be found at depths of several dozen feet.

During the day, it often forms large groups around coral formations, caves, rocky structures, or shipwrecks. Juveniles may also inhabit seagrass beds around reefs.

The common bluestripe snapper is an opportunistic predator that feeds mainly on small fish and crustaceans. It eats shrimp, crabs, and stomatopods, as well as cephalopods and small planktonic crustaceans.

It mainly feeds at night, when the large groups observed during the day disperse across the reef in search of food. It may also consume some algae.

The common bluestripe snapper reproduces in groups, generally in the evening or at night. Males begin the courtship display by rubbing against or gently nudging the females. The fish then swim upward together toward the surface and release their gametes. The fertilized eggs drift with the ocean currents and hatch in less than a day.

The common bluestripe snapper can form large gatherings of several hundred individuals around reefs, caves, or shipwrecks during the day. At nightfall, these groups disperse to search for food.

The common bluestripe snapper is also found in Hawaii, where it was introduced in the 1950s and 1960s. This population originated from fish introduced from the western Pacific.

The common bluestripe snapper is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The common bluestripe snapper appears in the IUCN Red List since 2016 within the category Least Concern !

The common bluestripe snapper can be confused with the Bengal snapper (Lutjanus bengalensis), which also has four blue stripes on a yellow body. The common bluestripe snapper is generally larger, and its belly is distinctly white, while the belly of the Bengal snapper is also whitish but its body is more slender. To tell them apart, also look at the overall body shape and the size of the fish.