| Cynoscion acoupa | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Acanthuriformes |
| Family: | Sciaenidae |
| Genus: | Cynoscion |
| Species: | C. acoupa |
| Binomial name | |
| Cynoscion acoupa (Lacepède, 1801) | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
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.
Cynoscion acoupa was first formally described as Cheilodipterus acoupa by the French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède with its type locality given as Cayenne in French Guiana. [3] The genus Cynoscion is classified by the 5th edition of Fishes of the World in the family Sciaenidae, with the croakers and drums. [4]
Cynoscion acoupa has an elongate, torpedo shapes body which is compressed to give it an oval cross-section. The head is low, with the crown being firm to the touch rather than spongy with moderately sized eyes and a large oblique mouth. There are many rows of tiny teeth with a pair of large, pointed canine-like teeth in the front of the upper jaw. The inner row of teeth on the lower jaw gradually get larger towards the rear of the jaw. There are no barbels or pores on the chin. The preoperculum is smooth and the top corner of gill slit is incised. The dorsal fin is long based and is deeply incised with 10 spines in front of the incision and a single spine and between 17 and 22 soft rays, typically 18 to 20. The anal fin is supported by 2 small spines, less than half the length of the first anal fin ray, and 7 to 9, normally 8, soft rays. They have large scales, ctenoid on the body and cycloid on the head. The lateral line reaches to the middle of the end of the caudal fin. [5] The colour of the body is silver and pale yellowish-orange with areas of darker colour along the base of the dorsal fin. The caudal, pelvic and pectoral fins are a darker yellowish-orange colour than that on the body. [6] This fish has a maximum published total length of 110 cm (43 in), although 45 cm (18 in) is more typical, and a maximum published weight of 17 kg (37 lb). [2]
Cynoscion acoupa is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean where it occurs from the estuarine area of Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela to southern Brazil, around 30° South. Records from the Gulf of Venezuela and the Caribbean coast of Colombia and Panama have not been verified. This species occurs at depth down to 45 m (148 ft) in shallow coastal waters in the vicinity of estuaries over sand and mud bottoms. [1] It will enter freshwater. [5]
Cynoscion acoupa is an oviparous fish which forms spawning aggregations in estuaries and uses estuaries as nursery areas for the juveniles. The adults tend to be found in shallow coastal waters close to estuaries while the juveniles will enter freshwater. They are rather inactive during the day but will hunt fir smaller fishes and shrimp in the night. [6]
Cynoscion acoupa is a target species for commercial and artisanal fisheries wherever it occurs.It is highly regareded as a food fish in the fish markets of French Guiana and Guyana. The swim bladder has a high value in the international maw trade , the highest demand being in China, and is traded for supposed nutritional and medicinal properties. It is also used to in the production of isinglass. This value in the maw trade has led to increases in illegal fishing. [1]
Cynoscion acoupa is highly valued for its flesh and swim bladder, it gathers in large, predictable aggregations and is a large bodied species, characteristics which make it vulnerable to overexploitation. There is evidence of overfishing in that landings have decreased and the effort the catch takes has increased. This in combination with lack of effective protection and continuing illegal fishing has led the IUCN to classify this species as Vulnerable. [1]
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.
Bairdiella chrysoura, the American silver perch, silver croaker or goldtail croaker, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This species is widespread along the eastern cost of North America and is commonly caught by inshore anglers in search of larger species. This fish is common up to 20 cm (7.9 in), but can be found uncommonly to 30 cm (12 in).
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.
The striped croaker, also known as the St Lucian corvina, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This species is found in the western Atlantic Ocean in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.
Cynoscion is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family, Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. These fishes are found off the coasts of North and South America in the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans. Many fishes in this genus have been given the common name weakfish.
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.
Boesemania is a monospecific genus of freshwater fish in the family Sciaenidae. This genus contains the single species Boesemania microlepis. Also known as the Boeseman croaker and smallscale croaker, this fish lives in southeast Asian rivers.
Reeve's croaker, also known as the goldbelly croaker, golden corvina, yellowfin croaker or yellowfin corvina, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This species is found in the coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific region. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Chrysochir.
Atractoscion is a genus of marine ray-finned fished belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. The fishes in this genus are found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Odontoscion dentex, the reef croaker or brown large-eyed croaker, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. It is found in coral and rocky reefs of the tropical Western Atlantic, living as solitary individuals or in small groups at a depth of 1 to 30 m. This species feeds on small fish, shrimp, and larvae.
The prickly croaker is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. The species is found in the Indo-West Pacific around southeast Asia. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Aspericorvina.
Atractoscion atelodus, the small lunate caudal fin croaker, teraglin, Jew, teraglin-Jew, trag or trag-Jew, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This species is endemic to the eastern coast of Australia.
The yellowtail croaker, also known as the yellowtail jewfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This species is found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean off northern Australia and southern New Guinea. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Austronibea.
The bluestreak drum, also known as the bluish croaker, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Elattarchus. This species is found in the central eastern Pacific Ocean along the coasts of the Americas.
Isopisthus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. These fishes are found in the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans.
Johnius dussumieri, the sin croaker, Dussumier's croaker, Dussumier's silver jewfish, sharptooth hammer croaker or whiskered croaker, is a marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This fish is found in the Indian Ocean.
Johnius carutta, the karut croaker or purple jewfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This species is found in the western Indian Ocean.
Macrodon 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.
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.
Odontoscion is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the croakers and drums. These fishes are found in the Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans.
