Atractoscion aequidens

• Overview
• Common Names
• Description
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Further Reading
• Notes

Overview

Family : Drums or croakers ; Found in coastal waters , over sandy and sandy mud bottom . Juveniles enter estuaries. Adults feed on pelagic fishes at night. Often caught with Umbrina canariensis . Marketed fresh, flesh highly esteemed[1]. Feeds on pelagic fish such as mackerel and horse mackerel[2].

Common Names

Click on the language to view common names.

Description

Family Sciaenidae

Drums or croakers are distributed in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. Dorsal fin long, having a deep notch between the spinous and soft-rayed parts, but the parts rarely separate. Spinous part with 6-13 spines; the soft-rayed part with 1 spine and usually 20-35 soft rays . Anal fin having 1 or 2 usually weak spines; soft rays 6-13. Lateral line reaching end of caudal fin. Slightly emarginate to rounded caudal fin. Opercle with the upper bony edge forked . Gill opening with a bony flap above it. Some species with 1 barbel or a patch of small barbels on chin. Large cavernous canals in head . Snout and lower jaw with conspicuous pores . Vomer and palatine toothless. Swim bladder usually having many branches and used as a resonating chamber. Exceptionally large otoliths. Vertebrae 24-29. Bottom dwelling carnivores , feeding on benthic invertebrates and small fishes . Juveniles are popular aquarium fishes, but difficult to maintain.The family Sciaenidae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) and the Order Perciformes. It contains 70 genera and 270 species. It may be found in Marine , Brackish , and Freshwater environments and is primarily Marine. Some members of this family are used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are nonguarders. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is labriform . Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be normal. Members of this family have been dated back to the Miocene epoch of the Tertiary period. This family may be found from 60° n to 40° s and 125° w to 154° e. Etymology of this family name : Greek, skiaina = a kind of fish

Physical Description

Habitat

May be found at depths of 15 to 200 meters. Usually found at depths of 100 to 200 meters.

Biome: Brackish water, saltwater . Benthopelagic.

Taxonomy

Ambiguous Synonyms

1. Cynoscion nebulosus (Cuvier, 1830)
2. Otolithus nebulosus (Non Cuvier, 1830)

Unambiguous Synonyms

1. Atractoscion stelodus /i> (G�nther, 1867)
2. Otolithus aequidens Cuvier, 1830
3. Otolithus atelodus G�nther, 1867
4. Otolithus teraglin Macleay, 1880

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: Data last modified by FishBase 10-Feb-1995

Similar Species

Members of the genus Atractoscion

There are approximately 4 species in this genus:

A. acquidens · A. aequidens (African Weakfish) · A. atelodus · A. nobilis (White Weakfish)

More Info

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• Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books

Further Reading

• Al Sakaff, H. and M. Esseen (1999). Occurrence and distribution of fish species off Yemen (Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea). Naga ICLARM Q. 22(1):43-47.
• Bianchi, G. (1992). Demersal assemblages of the continental shelf and upper slope of Angola. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 81:101-120.
• Bianchi, G., K.E. Carpenter, J.-P. Roux, F.J. Molloy, D. Boyer and H.J. Boyer (1993). FAO species identification field guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of Namibia. FAO, Rome. 250 p.
• Bouhlel, M. (1988). Poissons de Djibouti. Placerville (California, USA): RDA International, Inc. 416 p.
• Chao, L.N. and E. Trewavas (1990). Sciaenidae. p. 813-826. In J.C. Quero, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post and L. Saldanha (eds.) Check-list of the fishes the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). JNICT, Lisbon; SEI, Paris; and UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 2.
• Eschmeyer, William N., ed. 1998. Catalog of Fishes. Special Publication of the Center for Biodiversity Research and Information, no. 1, vol 1-3. California Academy of Sciences. San Francisco, California, USA. 2905. ISBN: 0-940228-47-5.
• Fischer, W., I. Sousa, C. Silva, A. de Freitas, J.M. Poutiers, W. Schneider, T.C. Borges, J.P. Feral and A. Massinga (1990). Fichas FAO de identifica�ao de esp�cies para actividades de pesca. Guia de campo das esp�cies comerciais marinhas e de �guas salob
• Food and Agriculture Organization (1992). FAO yearbook 1990. Fishery statistics. Catches and landings. FAO Fish. Ser. (38). FAO Stat. Ser. 70:(105):647 p.
• Heemstra, P.C. (1986). Sciaenidae. p. 616-619. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
• Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea and W.B. Scott (1991). World fishes important to North Americans. Exclusive of species from the continental waters of the United States and Canada. Am. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. (21):243 p.
• Sasaki, K. (2001). Sciaenidae. Croakers (drums). p. 3117-3174. In K.E. Carpenter and V.H. Niem (eds.) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 5. Bony fishes part 3 (Meni
• Shiino, Sueo M. 1976. List of Common Names of Fishes of the World, Those Prevailing among English-speaking Nations. Science Report of Shima Marineland, no. 4. Shima Marineland. Kashikojima, Shima, Mie, Japan. 262.

Notes

Contributors

• Amaoka, Kunio (from FishBase).
• Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed October 7, 2006.
• FishBase 2006.
• Froese, R., and D. Pauly. FishBase 2004. International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed March 02, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 5 providers.

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 02, 2008:

• FishBase: FishBase DiGIR Provider - Philippine Server
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Bureau of Rural Sciences National commercial fisheries half-degree data set 2000-2002 (OBIS Australia)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: iziko South African Museum - Fish Collection
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Demersal Surveys (years 1986-1990)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Demersal Surveys (years 1991-1995)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Demersal Surveys (years 1996-2000)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Demersal Surveys (years 2001-2005)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Demersal Surveys (years 2006-)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 1985)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 1986)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 1987)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 1988)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 1989)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 1990) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 1991) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 1992) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 1993) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 1994) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 1995) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 1996) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 1997) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 1998) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 1999) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 2000) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 2001) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 2002) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 2003) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 2004) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (First Semester of 2005) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 1985)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 1986)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 1987)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 1988)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 1989)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 1990) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 1991) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 1992) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 1993) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 1994) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 1995) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 1996) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 1997) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 1998) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 1999) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 2000) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 2001) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 2002) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 2003) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 2004) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Marine and Coastal Management - Linefish Dataset (Second Semester of 2005) (AfrOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity - Fish Collection (AfrOBIS)
• Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History: Vertebrate specimens
• Museum national d'histoire naturelle: Ichtyologie
• OZCAM (Online Zoological Collections of Australian Museums) Provider: Online Zoological Collections of Australian Museums

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 3855499
• Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: Fis-23031
• Fishbase Species ID: 420
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 13850217
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 169389
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 103536

Footnotes

1. Sasaki, K. (2001). Sciaenidae. Croakers (drums). p. 3117-3174. In K.E. Carpenter and V.H. Niem (eds.) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 5. Bony fishes part 3 (Meni [back]
2. Bianchi, G., K.E. Carpenter, J.-P. Roux, F.J. Molloy, D. Boyer and H.J. Boyer. (1999). Field guide to the living marine resources of Namibia. FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. Rome, FAO. 265 p., 11 colour plates. [back]

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