Menticirrhus saxatilis

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Menticirrhus saxatilis
Menticirrhus saxatilis (line arg).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Acanthuriformes
Family: Sciaenidae
Genus: Menticirrhus
Species:
M. saxatilis
Binomial name
Menticirrhus saxatilis
(Bloch & Schneider, 1801) [2]
Synonyms [2]
  • Johnius saxatilis Bloch & Schneider, 1801
  • Menticirrhus focaliger Ginsburg, 1952
  • Sciaena nebulosa Mitchill, 1815

Menticirrhus saxatilis, the northern kingfish or northern kingcroaker, is a species of marine fish in the family Sciaenidae (commonly known as the "drum" or "croaker" family). It lives in the shallow coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

Contents

Description

The northern kingfish can grow to about 46 centimetres (18 in), but a more usual adult length is 30 centimetres (12 in). [3] It is a slender fish, being most deep bodied in the pectoral region. As in most bottom-feeding fish, its upper jaw projects further than the lower and the snout overhangs the mouth. There is a small barbel on its fleshy lower lip. The dorsal fin is divided into two parts. The front part is triangular, short but tall with 10 spines, the third of which is the longest and is extended into a short filament. The other part of the dorsal fin is long and slightly tapered and has one spine and 24 to 27 soft rays. The pointed pectoral fins are quite large and the anal fin has 1 spine and 8 soft rays. The tailfin has a characteristic slightly concave upper lobe and a rounded lower lobe. The colour is dark grey with a metallic sheen and paler grey below. There are several diagonal bars of darker colour on the upper body. These mostly run towards the rear of the body but one or two bars near the head slope the other way. The fins are a dark colour, tipped with white. Unlike most members of its family, the northern kingfish has no air bladder, so the fish does not make the "croaking" sound that is characteristic of the family. [4] [5]

Distribution and habitat

The northern kingfish is a subtropical, demersal fish found in shallow waters in the western Atlantic Ocean. Its range extends from Massachusetts southwards through the Gulf of Mexico to the Yucatan peninsular of Mexico. It is found in schools in places where the seabed is sand or mud, in the surf zone and in estuaries. It can tolerate low salinity levels and the juveniles are often found in tidal rivers and creeks. [3] It is occasionally seen in Maine and in this more northerly part of its range it is migratory, disappearing from October to May. [4]

Biology

The northern kingfish feeds on benthic invertebrates. The diet consists mainly of small crustaceans such as shrimps and crabs but amphipods, polychaete worms, molluscs, small fish and mysids are also eaten and it also scavenges on carrion. [3]

In the eastern United States, spawning takes place from April to August. The spherical eggs contain oil globules. They are pelagic and disperse with the currents. The developing larvae are somewhat tadpole-like with large heads. By the time the fry reach a length of 5 millimetres (0.20 in) the soft dorsal and anal rays have already appeared and when they are 10 millimetres (0.39 in) long, the spiny rays have also developed. By this stage, their bodies are covered by melanophores. [3] They reach a length of about 12 centimetres (5 in) by their first winter and 25 centimetres (10 in) by their second. [4]

Uses

The northern kingfish is not fished commercially but from New Jersey southwards it provides good sport to surf anglers and those in boats close to the shore. The bait used can be pieces of squid, clams or bloodworms. The fish has tasty white meat. [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Menticirrhus</i> Genus of fishes

Menticirrhus is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonng to the family Sciaenidae, the drums or croakers. They are commonly known as kingcroakers or kingfish. These fish are found in the Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans.

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<i>Merlangius</i> Species of fish

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<i>Mycteroperca microlepis</i> Species of fish

Gag grouper, Mycteroperca microlepis, also known as velvet rockfish, the gag, or charcoal belly, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It comes from warmer parts of the West Atlantic, including the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. It is a drab, mottled-gray fish lacking the distinguishing features of most other groupers. Its pattern of markings resemble the box-shaped spots of the black grouper. It lacks the streamer-points on the tail fin that scamp and yellowmouth grouper have and lacks yellow coloration around the mouth.

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

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marquesan grouper</span> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malabar trevally</span> Species of fish

The Malabar trevally, also known as the Malabar jack, Malabar kingfish or nakedshield kingfish, is a species of large inshore marine fish of the jack family, Carangidae. It is distributed throughout the Indian and west Pacific Oceans from South Africa in the west to Japan and Australia in the east, inhabiting reefs and sandy bays on the continental shelf. The Malabar trevally is similar to many of the other species in the genus Carangoides, with the number of gill rakers and the grey-brown colour of the tongue being the diagnostic features. The Malabar trevally is a predator, taking a variety of small fish, cephalopods and crustaceans. The species is of minor economic importance throughout its range, caught by a variety of net and handline methods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleftbelly trevally</span> Species of fish

The cleftbelly trevally, also known as the cleftbelly kingfish, Kuweh trevally or thin crevalle, is a species of tropical marine fish of the jack family, Carangidae. The species inhabits coastal waters throughout the Indo-West Pacific region from South Africa in the west to Japan in the east, often found near the water's surface. The cleftbelly trevally is the only member of the genus Atropus and is distinguished by a number of anatomical characteristics, with a deep median groove in the belly giving the species its common name. It is not a large fish, growing to a maximum recorded length of 26.5 cm. Cleftbelly trevally are predatory fish, taking a variety of small crustaceans and fish. The species is of minor importance to fisheries throughout its range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longnose trevally</span> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coastal trevally</span> Species of fish

The coastal trevally, also known as the onion trevally, Japanese trevally or bluefin kingfish, is a species of inshore marine fish in the jack family Carangidae. The species is distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian and west Pacific Oceans, from South Africa in the west to Japan and New Caledonia in the east, reaching as far south as Australia. The species is found on deep coastal reefs, both in schools and as solitary individuals, where they prey on small midwater organisms including crustaceans, small fish and cephalopods. The species is taken as bycatch in a number of fisheries throughout its range by a number of fishing methods and is of little commercial value, but is considered to be a good table fish. A mistype in the original volume in which Eduard Rüppell named the species led to the combination Carangoides caeruleopinnatus, which has incorrectly spread through the literature.

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<i>Menticirrhus americanus</i> Species of fish

Menticirrhus americanus, the southern kingfish, southern kingcroaker, king whiting, Carolina whiting, sea mullet, roundhead, or whiting, is a species of marine fish in the family Sciaenidae. It lives in shallow coastal waters on the western fringes of the Atlantic Ocean.

<i>Apistus</i> Species of fish

Apistus is a monotypic genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Apistinae, the wasp scorpionfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and their relatives. Its only species is the Apistus carinatus which has the common names ocellated waspfish, bearded waspfish, longfin waspfish or ringtailed cardinalfish, has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution. This species has venom bearing spines in its fins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stargazing stonefish</span> Genus of fishes

The stargazing stonefish is a species of stonefish native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean where it is found on muddy bottoms in estuaries. This venomous species is also a minor component of local commercial fisheries. This species grows to a length of 8 centimetres (3.1 in) SL. This species is the only known member of the genus Trachicephalus.

<i>Parapercis maculata</i> Species of fish

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<i>Minous monodactylus</i> Species of fish

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<i>Lutjanus fulvus</i> Species of fish

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<i>Arothron reticularis</i> Species of fish

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The dwarf paradise fish, also known as the streamer threadfin or streamered tasselfish, is a species of ray-finned fish from a family Polynemidae, the threadfins. It is the only species in the genus Parapolynemus and it is found in Australia and New Guinea.

References

  1. Chao, L. & Espinosa-Perez, H. (2020). "Menticirrhus saxatilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T46105847A82677474. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T46105847A82677474.en . Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  2. 1 2 Bailly, Nicolas (2011). "Menticirrhus saxatilis (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 2012-03-06.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Menticirrhus saxatilis (Bloch & Schneider, 1801): Northern kingfish FishBase. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  4. 1 2 3 Henry B. Bigelow and William C. Schroeder (1953), "Kingfish Menticirrhus saxatilis (Bloch and Schneider) 1801", Fishes of the Gulf of Maine, Fishery Bulletin of the Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved from Gulf of Maine Research Institute website, 2012-03-07.
  5. Northern kingfish: Menticirrhus saxatilis (PDF), New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Marine Fisheries, retrieved 2012-03-09
  6. Northern Kingfish: A Profile New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife. Retrieved 20121-03-20.