Glasseye Snapper
Heteropriacanthus cruentatus
Sighting evidence at Gasparee Island Caves, Trinidad
Glasseye snappers pack into the cave overhangs in tight schools, using low-light zones to avoid predation during daytime while feeding on invertebrates at night. Their large eyes are an adaptation to the dim cave environment, and dense aggregations of 50 or more individuals hovering in beam light are a hallmark experience at Gasparee. They are a key link between the cave ecosystem and the open reef, carrying nutrients out of the cave when they disperse at dusk.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Glasseye Snapper is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.