Where do younger, smaller Yellowtail Snappers typically reside compared to the mature individuals that move to deeper areas?
Answer
Shallower water environments near seagrass beds
The habitat preference for Yellowtail Snapper exhibits a notable ontogenetic shift, meaning where they live changes as they age. Juvenile and younger, smaller specimens are frequently observed occupying shallower, clearer water areas. These nursery environments often include protection offered by seagrass beds or smaller patch reefs. As the fish mature and grow larger, they exhibit a migratory tendency, moving into deeper offshore environments where they favor the complex, hard-bottom structures provided by larger offshore reefs, seeking different feeding opportunities and greater protection.
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