A Virtual Museum on the State's Fish Biodiversity

Centropomus pectinatus

Tarpon Snook
NS NatureServeStatus object (G5)
Collection Details

Event Specimens

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Taxonomic Hierarchy

Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes) Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri) Centropomidae (Snooks) Centropomus Centropomus pectinatus (Tarpon Snook)

Description

This species account was compiled from Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.) and processed using AI-assisted text extraction. It may contain errors in spelling, punctuation, or formatting. When citing, please reference the original source rather than this page. Learn more about our species accounts.

Characters

Pelvic fins reach to or beyond anus; relatively short pectoral fins; relatively small scales; upper jaw extends slightly beyond anterior rim of orbit; gill rakers on first arch, including rudiments, number 22 to 28; measurements (% SL): head length 33%–37%, snout length 10%–11%, upper jaw length 13%–15%, lower jaw length 19%–22%, pectoral fin length 18%–21%, pelvic fin length 23%–26%, anal fin origin to anus 12%–16%; (% head length): body depth 71%–81%; pectoral fin has 13 to 15 rays; second dorsal fin has slender spine and 10 (rarely 11) rays; anal fin has three spines and 7 (rarely 8) rays; pored lateral line scales number 59 to 71; scales in horizontal series from posttemporal region to caudal fin base number 61 to 72 (usually 64 to 71); scales from origin of second dorsal fin to lateral line number 9 to 13; scales from lateral line to origin of anal fin number 11 to 14
Yellow brown to brownish green dorsally and silvery on sides and ventrally, with black or dark line along course of lateral line; fins are dusky; pelvic fin has large, dark, diffuse blotch near tip

Distribution

Southern Florida
Eastern and southwestern Gulf of Mexico

Habitat Associations

Near the coast, in estuaries, and in freshwater streams with connections to the sea

Biology

Crustaceans and ray-finned fishes
510 mm SL
Spawning is thought to take place from May to December
Inhabits coastal waters, estuaries and lagoons, penetrating into freshwater; usually prefers very low brackish water or freshwater (Ref. 3713). Feeds on fish and crustaceans (Ref. 36880). Marketed fresh (Ref. 3713).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2019-02-08. Resilience: High (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).

Commercial or Environmental Importance

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish.

References

Chávez 1963
Fraser 1968
Fraser 1978b
Greenfield 1975b
Rivas 1986
Robins and Ray 1986
Cervigón 1991
Cervigón 1993b
Smith 1997
Castro-Aguirre et al. 1999
Orrell 2002a
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Fraser, T.H. (1978) Centropomidae. In W. Fischer (ed.) FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. West Atlantic (Fishing Area 31). FAO, Rome. Vol. 1-2. pag.var.
Cervigón, F., R. Cipriani, W. Fischer, L. Garibaldi, M. Hendrickx, A.J. Lemus, R. Márquez, J.M. Poutiers, G. Robaina and B. Rodriguez (1992) Fichas FAO de identificación de especies para los fines de la pesca. Guía de campo de las especies comerciales marinas y de aquas salobres de la costa septentrional de Sur América. FAO, Rome. 513 p. Preparado con el financiamento de la Comisión de Comunidades Europeas y de NORAD.
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray (1986) A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p.

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