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Family Sciaenidae - Drums or croakers

Order:

Perciformes

Class:

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

No. of Genera:

No. of Species:

270

Environment:

Fresh: Yes Brackish: Yes Marine: Yes

Aquarium:

some

First Fossil Record:

lower Tertiary, Miocene Ref.: Berg, L.S..1958

Remark:

Drums or croakers are distributed in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. Dorsal fin long, having a deep notch between the spinous and soft-rayed parts, but the parts rarely separate. Spinous part with 6-13 spines; the soft-rayed part with 1 spine and usually 20-35 soft rays. Anal fin having 1 or 2 usually weak spines; soft rays 6-13. Lateral line reaching end of caudal fin. Slightly emarginate to rounded caudal fin. Opercle with the upper bony edge forked. Gill opening with a bony flap above it. Some species with 1 barbel or a patch of small barbels on chin. Large cavernous canals in head. Snout and lower jaw with conspicuous pores. Vomer and palatine toothless. Swim bladder usually having many branches and used as a resonating chamber. Exceptionally large otoliths. Vertebrae 24-29. Bottom dwelling carnivores, feeding on benthic invertebrates and small fishes. Juveniles are popular aquarium fishes, but difficult to maintain.

Etymology:

Greek, skiaina = a kind of fish ( Ref. 45335).

Division:

Marine

Reproductive guild:

nonguarders

Typical activity level:

normal

Main Ref.:

Nelson, J.S..1994

Coordinator:

Show species | Nominal species list for Sciaenidae | Identification keys | CAS specimen photos | References

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