| Family: |
Sciaenidae (Drums or croakers) |
| Max. size: |
56.9 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 2,200.0 g |
| Environment: |
demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 1 - 70 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: Panama and the Greater Antilles to Argentina. Including Lesser Antilles (Ref. 26938). Also reported in Nicaragua (Ref. 13613). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 23-27; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Colour greyish above, silvery below. Without conspicuous spots, but with faint dark streaks along scale rows above lateral line. Pectoral-fin bases and upper rays slightly dark, pelvic and anal fins often yellowish, dorsal and caudal fins dusky with darker margin. Inside opercle darkish visible externally. Mouth large, oblique, lower jaw slightly projecting. Upper jaw with a pair of large canine-like teeth at tip. Chin without barbel or pores, snout with only 2 marginal pores. Gas bladder with a pair of horn-like anterior appendages. Sagitta (large earstone) moderately broad and thick, Lapillus (small earstone rudimentary. Scales large. Soft portion of dorsal-fin base covered with small scales up to 1/2 of fin height (Ref 51721). |
| Biology: |
Found over sand or mud bottoms from the coastline to about 60 m depth (Ref. 3702); rarely in waters with a depth of less than 18 m (Ref. 9626). Juveniles inhabit river estuaries (Ref. 3702). Oviparous, with high fecundity (Ref. 54358). Feed on fishes and crustaceans like crabs and shrimps (Ref. 35237). Important food fish (Ref. 3702). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 October 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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