Cynoscion leiarchus (Cuvier, 1830)
Smooth weakfish
Cynoscion leiarchus
photo by Carvalho Filho, A.

Family:  Sciaenidae (Drums or croakers)
Max. size:  90.8 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 2,000.0 g
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 10 - 50 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Panama to Santos, Brazil. Also reported in Nicaragua (Ref. 13613).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-24; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 8-10. Silvery bluish on back, often with greenish reflections. Whitish on belly. Upper sides sometimes with inconspicuous minute dark dots. Soft portion of dorsal fin and caudal fin edged with black, pelvic and anal fins yellowish. Inside of opercle dark, visible externally. Mouth large, pointed, lower jaw projecting. Upper jaw with a pair of large canine-teeth at tip. Chin without barbel or obvious pores. Snout with 2 marginal pores. Gas bladder with a pair of curved, horn-like anterior appendages. Scales small, all cycloid (smooth). Soft dorsal-fin base with 1 or 2 rows of scales along its base (Ref 51721).
Biology:  Found over mud and sand bottoms in river estuaries. Occurs up to 50 m but usually less than 25 m (Ref. 9626). Marketed fresh and salted.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 October 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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