Sciaenidae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Croakers and drums
Atlantic croaker, Micropogonias undulatus
Atlantic croaker, Micropogonias undulatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Sciaenidae
Genera

See text.
Juvenile Spotted Drumfish, Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles
Juvenile Spotted Drumfish, Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles
Adult and Juvenile Spotted Drumfish, St. Kitts
Adult and Juvenile Spotted Drumfish, St. Kitts

Sciaenidae is a family of fish commonly called drums, croakers, or hardheads for the repetitive throbbing or drumming sounds (which they make themselves) heard under water. The family includes the weakfish, and consists of about 275 species in about 70 genera; it belongs to the order Perciformes.

Sciaenids have a long dorsal fin reaching nearly to the tail, and a notch between the rays and spines of the dorsal, although the two parts are actually separate. Drums are somberly colored, usually in shades of brown, with a lateral line that extends to the tip of the caudal fin. The anal fin usually has two spines while the dorsal fins are deeply notched or separate. Most species have a rounded or pointed caudal fin. The mouth is set low and is usually inferior.

They are found worldwide, in both fresh and saltwater, and are typically benthic carnivores, feeding on invertebrates and smaller fish. They are small to medium-sized bottom dwelling fishes that live primarily in estuaries, bays, and muddy river banks. Most of these fishes avoid clear waters such as coral reefs and oceanic islands with a few notable exceptions (i.e., Reef Croaker, High-hat, and Spotted Drum). They live in warm-temperate and tropical waters and are best represented in major rivers in S.E. Asia, N.E. South America, Gulf of Mexico, and Gulf of California.

They are excellent food and sport fishes and are commonly caught by surf and pier fishers.

The sounds are produced by the beating of abdominal muscles against the swim bladder. (In the Mississippi Valley region of the U.S., there is a widespread but inaccurate belief that the drumfish makes the sounds by rattling two loose bones inside its cranium. There are, in fact, no such bones.)

[edit] Genera and selected species

[edit] References

  • "Sciaenidae". FishBase. Ed. Rainer Froese and Daniel Pauly. May 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.