Odontoscion dentex
Reef Croaker
Collection Details
Specimens
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Sciaenidae (Drums and Croakers)
Odontoscion
Odontoscion dentex (Reef Croaker)
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.
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Characters
Oblong body shape, truncate to double-emarginate caudal fin, large black blotch on pectoral fin base, evenly convex dorsal profile, oval-shaped posterior naris, large and terminal to slightly subterminal mouth, maxilla extending to posterior margin of eye, snout with three rostral and five marginal pores, chin with four mental pores, large conical jaw teeth in a single series, two large canine teeth at tip of lower jaw, finely denticulate preopercular margin, 19-25 long and stiff gill rakers on first arch, measurements (% SL): head length 31%-34%, snout length 7%-9%, interorbital width 7%-8%, eye diameter 9%-10%, upper jaw length 14%-16%, longest dorsal fin spine 14%-17%, pectoral fin length about 17%, body depth 27%-29%, pectoral fin with 15-17 rays, dorsal fin deeply notched with 11 or 12 spines in anterior section and 1 spine and 23-26 rays in posterior section, anal fin with 2 spines and 8-10 rays, body and most of head covered with ctenoid scales, gas bladder with yoke-shaped anterior chamber and carrot-shaped posterior chamber but lacks appendages
Silvery to brownish gray, with dark spots on scales and a large dark spot on pectoral fin base, inner surface of opercular cavity is dark
Distribution
Western Atlantic from southern Florida and Cuba to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Keys, and the Greater and Lesser Antilles
In the Gulf of Mexico known from southwestern Florida, the Dry Tortugas, Veracruz, and the west coast of the Yucatán Peninsula
Habitat Associations
Coastal waters, associated with sandy mud bottoms and coral reefs
Sandy mud bottoms and coral reefs
Biology
Food consists of shrimps and small ray-finned fishes
Maximum known size is 300 mm TL
Inhabits caves and crevices or among corals (Ref. 9710). Solitary or in groups (Ref. 9710). Feeds at night mainly on shrimps and small fishes (Ref. 9710), and their larvae (Ref. 13442). Secretive and wary (Ref. 9710).
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2020-01-23. Resilience: High (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: minor commercial.
References
Longley and Hildebrand 1941
Chao 1978
Chao 2002
Uyeno and Sato 1983a
Robins and Ray 1986
Randall 1996
Schaldach et al. 1997
Smith 1997
Vega-Cendejas et al. 1997
Randall, J.E. (1967) Food habits of reef fishes of the West Indies. Stud. Trop. Oceanogr. Miami 5:665-847.
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
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.
Lieske, E. and R. Myers (1994) Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Haper Collins Publishers, 400 p.
Randall, J.E. (1996) Caribbean reef fishes. Third Edition - revised and enlarged. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Ltd., Hong Kong. 3nd ed. 368 p.
Claro, R. (1994) Características generales de la ictiofauna. p. 55-70. In R. Claro (ed.) Ecología de los peces marinos de Cuba. Instituto de Oceanología Academia de Ciencias de Cuba and Centro de Investigaciones de Quintana Roo.
Yáñes-Arancibia, A., A.L. Lara-Domínguez and J.W. Day Jr. (1993) Interactions between mangrove and seagrass habitats mediated by estuarine nekton assemblages: coupling of primary and secondary production. Hydrobiologia 264:1-12.
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