Atlantic croaker

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Atlantic croaker
Micropogonias undulatus RR 072120 0655 (50142583921).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Acanthuriformes
Family: Sciaenidae
Genus: Micropogonias
Species:
M. undulatus
Binomial name
Micropogonias undulatus
(Linnaeus, 1766)
Synonyms [2]
  • Perca undulata Linnaeus, 1766
  • Micropogon undulatus (Linnaeus, 1766)
  • Sciaena croker Lacépède, 1802
  • Bodianus costatus Mitchill, 1815
  • Micropogon lineatus Cuvier, 1830

The Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae and is closely related to the black drum ( Pogonias cromis ), the silver perch ( Bairdiella chrysoura ), the spot croaker ( Leiostomus xanthurus ), the red drum ( Sciaenops ocellatus ), the spotted seatrout ( Cynoscion nebulosus ), and the weakfish ( Cynoscion regalis ). It is commonly found in sounds and estuaries from Massachusetts to the Gulf of Mexico.

Contents

Description

Atlantic croaker in Pass Christian, Mississippi Atlantic Croaker.jpg
Atlantic croaker in Pass Christian, Mississippi

The name croaker is descriptive of the noise the fish makes by vibrating strong muscles against its swim bladder, which acts as a resonating chamber much like a ball. The Atlantic croaker is the loudest of the drum family. It is also referred to as a hardhead, with smaller ones called pin heads. During spawning season (August to October), croakers turn a deep golden color, from this comes the name golden croaker. Beginning in August, tiny young enter the Chesapeake Bay and travel to low-salinity and freshwater creeks. They move to deeper parts of tidal rivers for the winter. Juveniles leave the bay with the adults the following autumn. [3] When full-grown at 2 to 3 years old, croakers reach between 18 and 20 inches in length long and 4 to 5 pounds, but on average are 1/2-2 pounds. The fish's lifespan can reach up to 8 years. [4] The Chesapeake Bay record Atlantic croaker, caught in August 2007 off New Point Comfort Lighthouse in Virginia, weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces and measured 27 inches long. They have traditionally been used for food by Native Americans, and their remains are found in shell middens. [5] These fish are popular catches among recreational anglers.[ citation needed ]

Distribution and habitat

The Atlantic croaker is native to coastal waters in the western Atlantic Ocean. Its range extends from Massachusetts to Mexico and includes the northern half of the Caribbean Sea but possibly not the southern Gulf of Mexico or the Antilles. It is also thought to live on the coasts of southern Brazil and Argentina. It is usually found in bays and estuaries over sandy or muddy bottoms where it feeds on polychaete worms, crustaceans and small fish. [2] The croaker visits the Chesapeake Bay from March through October and is found throughout the Bay as far north as the Susquehanna Flats. [6]

Management

Croaker populations greatly vary from year to year, and can be dependent on the conditions of their habitats. Their management is challenging due to the variability in their numbers. [2] Due to a wide range and large population, croaker are listed as species of Least Concern by the IUCN. [7]

Importance in scientific research

In 1999, an androgen receptor protein called ZIP9 Protein was discovered in the brain, ovary and testicular tissues of Atlantic croaker. [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Cynoscion regalis</i> Species of fish

Cynoscion regalis, the weakfish, squeteague, bastard trout, bastard weakfish, common weakfish, gray weakfish, chickwick, gray trout, gray sea trout, sand trout, silver weakfish or squit, is a marine ray-finned fish of the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sciaenidae</span> Family of fishes

Sciaenidae is a family of ray-finned fishes belonging to the order Acanthuriformes. They are commonly called drums or croakers in reference to the repetitive throbbing or drumming sounds they make. The family consists of about 293 to 298 species in about 66 or 67 genera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red drum</span> Species of fish

The red drum, also known as redfish, channel bass, puppy drum, spottail bass, or simply red, is a game fish found in the Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to northern Mexico. It is the only species in the genus Sciaenops.

<i>Cynoscion nebulosus</i> Species of fish

Spotted seatrout(Cynoscion nebulosus), also known as speckled trout, is a common estuarine fish found in the southern United States along coasts of Gulf of Mexico and the coastal Atlantic Ocean from Maryland to Florida. While most of these fish are caught on shallow, grassy flats, spotted seatrout reside in virtually any inshore waters, from the surf of outside islands to far up coastal rivers, where they often come for shelter during cold weather. Contrary to its name, the spotted seatrout is not a member of the trout family (Salmonidae), but of the drum family (Sciaenidae). It is popular for commercial and especially recreational fishing in coastal waters of the southeastern United States. Adults reach 19-37 inches in length and 3-17 pounds in weight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">York River State Park</span> State park in Virginia, United States

York River State Park is located near the unincorporated town of Croaker in James City County, Virginia on the south bank of the York River about 10 miles downstream from West Point.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spot (fish)</span> Species of fish

The spot, also known commonly as the spot croaker, Norfolk spot and the Virginia spot, is a species of small short-lived saltwater fish in the family Sciaenidae. The species inhabits estuary and coastal waters from Massachusetts to Texas, and derives its name from the prominent dark spot behind each gill. It is the only species in the genus Leiostomus. Spot are frequently caught by recreational anglers and are good to eat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California corbina</span> Species of fish

The California corbina, or California kingcroaker, is marine demersal fish in the croaker family. It can often be found along sandy beaches and in shallow bays. This species travels in small groups along the surf zone in a few inches of water to depths of 20 meters (66 ft). Other names include "California kingcroaker," "California whiting," and "kingfish".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellowfin croaker</span> Species of fish

The yellowfin croaker is a species of croaker occurring from the Gulf of California, Mexico, to Point Conception, California. They frequent bays, channels, harbors and other nearshore waters over sandy bottoms. These croakers are more abundant along beaches during the summer months and may move to deeper water in winter. There is no set size limit for the yellowfin croaker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotfin croaker</span> Species of fish

The spotfin croaker is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging o the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This species occurs from Mazatlán, Mexico, to Point Conception, California, including the Gulf of California. It is the only species in the genus Roncador. In California, they are most commonly found south of Los Angeles Harbor. They live along beaches and in bays over bottoms varying from coarse sand to heavy mud and at depths varying from 4 to 50 feet or more. They prefer depressions and holes near shore.

<i>Cynoscion acoupa</i> Species of fish

Cynoscion acoupa, the acoupa weakfish, blacktail basher or grey snapper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This fish is found in the western Atlantic.

<i>Micropogonias</i> Genus of fishes

Micropogonias is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. These fishes are found in the eastern Pacific and western Atlantic Oceans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black drum</span> Species of fish

The black drum, also known as the drum or drummer, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. It is found in the western North Atlantic Ocean off the eastern coast of North America. Though most specimens are generally found in the 5-30 lb (2–14 kg) range, the largest black drum was just over 113 lb (51 kg). They are often black and/or gray in color with juvenile fish having distinctive dark stripes over a gray body. Their teeth are rounded and they have powerful jaws capable of crushing oysters and other shellfish. It is recommended those over 15 lb (7 kg) should be released. Black drum are capable of producing tones between 100 Hz and 500 Hz when performing mating calls.

<i>Pogonias</i> Genus of fishes

Pogonias is a genus of ray-finned fish in the family Sciaenidae. It was formerly believed to be a monotypic genus only containing the black drum, but a second species was re-described in 2019.

<i>Anchoa mitchilli</i> Species of ray-finned fish

Anchoa mitchilli is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Engraulidae, the anchovies. Its common names include bay anchovy and common anchovy. It is native to the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. It is one of the most common fish species along the coastlines of the western Atlantic.

<i>Cynoscion arenarius</i> Species of fish

Cynoscion arenarius, sand seatrout, sand weakfish or white trout, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean. It is closely related to the common weakfish and may be a subspecies of C. regalis.

<i>Gobiosoma bosc</i> Species of fish

Gobiosoma bosc is a fish named for its lack of scales. This is a true goby; it is part of the genus Gobiosoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zinc transporter ZIP9</span> Protein found in humans

Zinc transporter ZIP9, also known as Zrt- and Irt-like protein 9 (ZIP9) and solute carrier family 39 member 9, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SLC39A9 gene. This protein is the 9th member out of 14 ZIP family proteins, which is a membrane androgen receptor (mAR) coupled to G proteins, and also classified as a zinc transporter protein. ZIP family proteins transport zinc metal from the extracellular environment into cells through cell membrane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver seatrout</span> Fish species

The silver seatrout, also known as white trout, sugar trout, and silver weakfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This fish is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean.

<i>Micropogonias furnieri</i>

Micropogonias furnieri, the whitemouth croaker, golden croaker, hardhead, mangrove snapper, rocandoronco, two-belly bashaw, West Indian croaker, West Indian drum or whitemouth drummer, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This fish is found in the western Atlantic Ocean.

References

  1. Chao, L.; Espinosa-Perez, H. (2020). "Micropogonias undulatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T193268A82667096. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T193268A82667096.en . Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2023). "Micropogonias undulatus" in FishBase. February 2023 version.
  3. Program, Chesapeake Bay. "Atlantic Croaker - Chesapeake Bay Program". www.chesapeakebay.net.
  4. "Atlantic Croaker" . Retrieved 2017-09-03.
  5. "Atlantic Croaker_ Taxonomy and Basic Description" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-08-10. Retrieved 2013-03-31.
  6. "Atlantic Croaker". Chesapeake Bay Program. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  7. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Micropogonias undulatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. December 2009.
  8. Sperry, Todd S.; Thomas, Peter (1999-04-01). "Characterization of Two Nuclear Androgen Receptors in Atlantic Croaker: Comparison of Their Biochemical Properties and Binding Specificities". Endocrinology. 140 (4): 1602–1611. doi: 10.1210/endo.140.4.6631 . ISSN   0013-7227. PMID   10098494.