School of vermilion snapper

School of vermilion snapper are common on reefs off the southeastern U.S.

The vermilion snapper or bee liner (Rhomboplites aurorubens) is a species of snapper native to the western Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina to Bermuda including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea to Brazil.

This species inhabits waters from 40 to 300 m (130 to 980 ft) (though rarer deeper than 100 m (330 ft)) where they can be found in large schools over substrates of sand, gravel, or rock.

This species can reach a length of 60 cm (24 in), though most are around 35 cm (14 in). The greatest recorded weight for this species is 3.2 kg (7.1 lb). It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries. The vermilion snapper is often sold as red snapper

Exploring Underwater Oases: July 27 – September 1, 2002