<![CDATA[This study aimed to assess species diversity and morphometric variation of snapper fish (Lutjanidae) in the coastal waters of West Aceh. Field surveys were conducted to collect snapper specimens, followed by morphometric identification using ImageJ software. A total of 161 individuals were analyzed, representing 22 species belonging to seven genera. The genus Lutjanus was the most dominant, comprising 127 individuals. Among the identified species, L. timoriensis was the most abundant, whereas L. fulvus, L. lunulatus, L. papuensis, and Macolor macularis were recorded in the lowest numbers. Morphometric analysis revealed considerable variation in body shape and morphological characteristics among species, providing useful diagnostic information for species identification and taxonomic assessment. The observed variation reflected the morphological diversity of snapper assemblages in the study area and demonstrated the importance of morphometric characteristics for distinguishing closely related species. These findings provide baseline information on the diversity and morphological characteristics of Lutjanidae in West Aceh coastal waters. The results may support future taxonomic studies, biodiversity assessments, conservation planning, and sustainable fisheries management. Furthermore, the combination of field surveys and image-based morphometric analysis proved effective for documenting snapper diversity and morphological variation in the region and contribute to improved understanding of local fish biodiversity.]]>
