Odontoscion dentex | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Acanthuriformes |
Family: | Sciaenidae |
Genus: | Odontoscion |
Species: | O. dentex |
Binomial name | |
Odontoscion dentex (Cuvier, 1830) | |
Synonyms [2] | |
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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 (3 ft 3 in to 98 ft 5 in). This species feeds on small fish, shrimp, and larvae. [2]
Odontoscion dentex was first formally described in 1830 as Corvina dentex by the French zoologist Georges Cuvier with its type locality given as Port-au-Prince in Haiti. [3] In 1862 the American biologist Theodore Gill classified Cuviers' C. dentex in a new monospecific genus Odontoscion , designating it as the type species. [4] This species has been placed in the subfamily Stelliferinae by some workers, [5] but the 5th edition of Fishes of the World does not recognise subfamilies within the Sciaenidae which it places in the order Acanthuriformes. [6]
Odontoscion dentex has the generic name Odontoscion which is a combination of odontos, meaning teeth, a referenece to the 6 or 7 large canine-like teeth on each side of both jaws of the type species, with scion, a modern Greek name of the shi drum ( Umbrina cirrosa ), which Gill chose in preference to “sciaena” because he thought that it sounded better, similar to his coining of Cynoscion . The specific name dentex means toothed and also refers to the large teeth. [7]
Odontoscion dentex has a short, rather oblong and compressed bodies, [8] with a smoothly arched dorsal profile. [9] It has a low head with a conical snout and a large eye. There is a small protuberance on the tip of the lower jaw. The mouth is moderately large, upwards pointing and has a protruding lower jaw. There is a row of large teeth in the front of each jaw, with a pair of canines at the tip of the lower jaw. The snout has 8 pores and there are a further 4 pores on the chin, which does not have a barbel. The preoperculum is smooth. The dorsal fin is supported by 11 or 12 spines before the incision and by a single spine and between 23 and 26 soft rays to the rear of the incision, The anal fin has 2 spines and 8 or 9 soft rays, with the second robust spine being 75% of the length of the first soft ray. The overall colour is dark grey with dark spots on the scales, the internal surface of the operculum is black and there is a large black spot at the axil of the pectoral fins. [8] The maximum published total length for the reef croaker is 30 cm (12 in), although 18 cm (7.1 in) is more typical. [2]
Odontoscion dentex is found in the tropical Western Atlantic Ocean from Florida and Cuba to southern Brazil, although it is absent from the Bahamas. It is found within caves and crevices or in corals as depths between 1 and 30 m (3 ft 3 in and 98 ft 5 in). [2]
Odontoscion dentex is a rather shy and nocturnal species, using caves and crevices to shelter during the day. At night they emerge in small schools and feed on shrimp and small fishes. [2] [1]
Odontoscion dentex has a wide distribution and in many areas where it occurs it is regarded as abundant, particularly in inshore waters in the vicinity of reefs. It is not targeted by large scale commercial fisheries and is mainly taken as bycatch or in mixed croaker fisheries by small scale fishers. The IUCN state that there are no major threats to this species and classify it as Least Concern. [1]
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.
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.
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.
Pareques acuminatus, commonly known as the high-hat, donkeyfish, cubbyu, Steindachner's ribbonfish, streaked ribbonfish, striped ribbonfish or striped drum, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the genus Pareques in the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This species is found in the western Atlantic Ocean.
Nebris is a small genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. There are two species in the genus, one in the Western Atlantic Ocean and one in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
The blackspotted croaker, also known in Australia as the black jewfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This fish is found in the Indo-Pacific region. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Protonibea.
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.
Umbrina is a genus of fish from the croaker family Sciaenidae. The genus contains 17 species occurring in tropical and warm temperate waters of the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the Western Indian Ocean and the eastern Pacific.
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.
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.
The geelbeck croaker, also known as the African weakfish or Cape salmon, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This species is found in the southwestern Indian Ocean off southeastern Africa.
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.
Cheilotrema 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 Ocean.
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.
The kathala croaker is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This species is found in the Indian Ocean off South Asia. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Kathala.
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.