Centropomus

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iCentropomus

Common snook (C. undecimalis)

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Centropomidae
Subfamily:	Centropominae
Genus:	Centropomus Lacépède, 1802

Species

See text.

For the Canadian comedian, see Snook (comedian).

Centropomus Lacépède, 1802, is a genus of predominantly marine fish in family Centropomidae of order Perciformes. The type species is Centropomus undecimalis, the common snook. Commonly known as snooks or róbalos, the Centropomus species are native to tropical and subtropical waters of the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans.

The snook species range in maximum length from about 35 cm (14 in) to some 140 cm (4 ft 7 in), with maximum recorded weights of 1.0 – 26 kg (2.2 – 57 lb).

Occurring in a variety of habitats ranging from coral reefs to estuaries and mangrove swamps, the snooks are carnivorous, feeding primarily on crustaceans and other fishes.

Many of the snooks are important as commercial food fish and as game fish.

The generic name Centropomus derives from the Greek κέντρον (centre, in this sense "sting") and πώμα (cover, plug, operculum).