Peristedion truncatum

Body elongate or oblong, and compressed, usu ally with a convex dorsal profile, often concave at snout or above eyes. Mouth large, jaws unequal, with lower jaw protruding beyond the upper; teeth sm all, in villi form b ands on jaws and on roof of mouth (vomer, palatines and sometimes ectopterygoids); preoperculum with a serrated posterior and ventral border; operculum without spines; subor- bital plate with a serrated ventral edge. Two separate dorsal fins, the first with 8 strong spines, the second with 1 spine and 8 to 11 (usu ally 9 or 10) soft rays; anal fin short, with 3 strong spines (the second strongest) and 5 to 8 (usu ally 6 or 7) soft rays; pelvic fins below pectoral fins, with 1 strong spine and 5 soft rays; an axillary scale present. Scales moderate or large, ctenoid (rough to touch); lateral line extending to the hind margin of caudal fin. Centropomus is the only centropomid genus in the area. Colour: Centropomus species are yel- low-brown to brown-green above, silvery on sides and below, and with a black or dark lateral line on sides; fins are dusky. lateral line extends to hind margin of lower jaw protrudes beyond upper anal fin with 3 strong spines

Body shape: fusiform / normal.

Gulf coast of Mexico, sou thern Florida, Greater and Lesser Antilles, and conti- nental Caribbean coasts of Central and South America, southward extending to Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Perci formes: Percoidei: Centropomidae 1289 Centropomus mexi canus Bocourt, 1868 Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / None. FAO names: En - Largescale fat snook; Sp - Robalo gordo de escama gr ande. Diagnostic characters: Medium-sized, moderately deep bodied. Gill rakers 4 to 6, usu ally 4 or 5, on upper limb (excluding rudiments). Total gill rakers 14 to 17, usu ally 15 to 17 (excluding rudiments); 21 to 24, usu ally 22 or 23 (including rudiments). Dorsal-fin soft rays 10, r arely 9; third dorsal-fin spine higher than fourth when erect. Anal-fin soft rays 6; second anal-fin spine not reaching beyond vertical from caudal-fin base when deflexed. Pectoral-fin soft rays 14 to 16, mod ally 15. Scales from origin of second dorsal fin to lateral line 10 to 15, usu ally 11 to 14. Lateral scales 68 to 78, usu ally 70 to 77. Scales from origin of anal fin to lateral line 12 to 16, usu ally 13 to 15. Colour: yellow-brown to brown-green above, silvery on sides and below, and with a dark lateral line on sides; fins dusky, caudal fin reddish. Size: Maximum 43 cm, common to 18 cm. Habit, biology, and fisheries: Occurs more fre- quently in salt water than in streams. Nothing is known about where this species may spawn and no app arent extensive migrations known. Sepa- rate statistics are not reported for this species. Distri bution: Gulf coast of Mexico (Tamaulipas to Tabasco) and Greater Antilles southward to Porto Alegre, Brazil. Note: Very similar to Centropomus par allelus, but with larger and fewer scales. Centropomus par allelus Poey, 1860 EPP Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / None. FAO names: En - Fat snook (AFS: Sm allscale fat snook); Fr - Crossie chucumite; Sp - Robalo chucumite (AFS: Robalo gordo de escama chica). relative scale size on side of body Diagnostic characters: A medium-sized fish, comparatively deep (body depth 67 to 81% of head length). Snout profile straight to slightly concave; mouth large with lower jaw protruding beyond upper. Total gill rakers on first arch14 to 17 (usu ally 15 to 17) (not including rudiments); 21 to 25 (usu ally 22 to 24) (including rudi- ments); gill rakers on upper limb of first arch 4 or 5, not including rudiments. Third dorsal-fin spine higher than fourth when erect; second dorsal fin with 1 spine and 9 to 11, norm ally 10 soft rays. Anal-fin with 3 spines and with 6, r arely 7 soft rays. Pectoral-fin soft rays 14 to 16, mod ally 15. Tips of pelvic fins reaching to or past the vent in all but the largest specimens; second anal spine not reaching to, or reaching to vertical from caudal-fin base when deflexed. Sm all scales, lateral scales 79 to 92. Colour: yellow-brown to brown-green above, silvery on sides and below, and with a dark lateral line on sides; fins dusky. Size: Maximum 63 cm, 3 kg; common to 25 cm, 0.5 kg. Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Inhab its coastal waters, estuaries, and lagoons, penetrating into fresh water; usu ally prefers very low salinity brackish or fresh water over salt water. May spawn near river mouths, no ap- p arent extensive migration known. Feeds on fish and crustaceans. Fished in estuaries, brackish lagoons and fresh water in the Antilles and in Central and South America. Caught mainly with bottom gill nets, hook-and-line, and cast nets. Marketed mostly fresh. Separate statistics are not reported for this species Distri bution: Sou thern Florida, Greater and Lesser Antilles, sou theastern coast of the Gulf of Mexico, and continental Caribbean coasts; southward extending to Florianopolis, Brazil. Note: The sm all-scale Centropomus par allelus is very similar to the large-scale Centropomus mexi canus. Perci formes: Percoidei: Centropomidae 1291 Centropomus pectinatus Poey, 1860 EPS Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / None. FAO names: En - Tarpon snook; Fr - Crossie constantin; Sp - Robalo constantino (AFS: Robalo sábalo). relative scale size on side of body Diagnostic characters: Medium-sized, moderately deep bodied. Anterior part of head upturned. Tooth patch on ectopterygiod reduced or absent. Gill rakers of first arch on lower limb 14 to 17 (usu ally 15 or 16) not including rudiments; 15 to 20 (mod ally 18) including rudiments; 5 or 6 (mod ally 6) on upper limb not including rudiments, 6 to 9 (mod ally 7) including rudiments; total gill rakers on first arch 22 to 28 (usu ally 24 to 26) includ- ing rudiments. Dorsal-fin soft rays 10, r arely 11; third dorsal-fin spine higher than fourth when erect, second anal-fin spine not reaching to tip of third when erect, nor to vertical from caudal base when deflexed. Anal-fin with 3 spines and 7 soft rays, r arely 8. Pectoral-fin soft rays 13 to 15 norm ally 13 or 14. Tips of pelvic fins reaching to or past the anus. Lateral line extending to hind margin of caudal fin; lateral scales 61 to 72, usu ally 64 to 67. Scales from origin of second dorsal fin to lateral line 9 to 13, usu ally 10 to 12. Scales around caudal peduncle 20 to 22, mod ally 20. Colour: yellow-brown to brown-green above, silvery on sides and below, and with a dark lateral line on sides; fins dusky, pelvic fins with a large dark, diffuse mark or spot near the tips. Size: Maximum 51 cm, 1 kg; common to 30 cm, 0.4 kg. Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Inhab its coastal waters, estuaries, and lagoons, penetrating into fresh water; usu ally prefers very low brackish or fresh water. Nothing known about where this species may spawn, no ap- p arent extensive migrations known. Feeds on fish and crustaceans. Present fishing grounds: estuaries, brack- ish lagoons, and fresh waters in the Antilles and in Central and South America. Caught mainly with bottom gill nets, hook-and-line, and cast nets. Marketed mostly fresh. Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Distri bution: Sou thern Florida, Greater and Lesser Antilles, sou theastern coast of the Gulf of Mexico, and continental Caribbean coasts of Central and South America; southward extend- ing to Rio de Janeiro (Brazil); also found along the Pacific coast of America, from Mexico to Co- lombia. Centropomus poeyi Chávez, 1961 Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / None. FAO names: En - Mexi can snook; Fr - Crossie mexicain; Sp - Robalo prieto (AFS: Robalo meji cano). relative scale size on side of body Diagnostic characters: A fairly large fish, moderately deep (body depth 67 to 70% of head length). Snout profile nearly straight or slightly concave; mouth large with lower jaw projecting beyond the upper. Total gill rak- ers on first arch 15 to 18 (mod ally 16) not including rudiments; 22 to 25 (mod ally 23) including rudiments. Third dorsal-fin spine higher than fourth when erect; second dorsal fin with 1 spine and 9 soft rays. Second anal-fin spine not reaching to vertical from caudal-fin base when deflexed. Pectoral-fin soft rays 15 to 17, nor- m ally 15 or 16. Tips of pelvic fins never reaching to the anus in specimens over 21 cm st andard length. Lateral line extending to hind margin of caudal fin; number of lateral scales 73 to 80, norm ally 75 to 78. Scales from ori- gin of second dorsal fin to lateral line 10 to 13, usu ally 11 or 12; scales from origin of anal fin to lateral line 12 to 15 (mod ally 13). Scales around caudal peduncle 24 to 29, usu ally 26 or 27. Colour: yellow-brown to brown-green above, silvery on sides and below, and with a dark lateral line on sides; fins dusky. Size: Maximum 90 cm, 9 kg; common to 45 cm, 1.8 kg. Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Inhab its coastal waters, estuaries, and lagoons, pene- trating into fresh water; usu ally occurs at depths less than 20 m. Congregates in rivers in March, spawning app arently occurs in fresh or low brackish water from June through August. No ap- p arent extensive migrations known. Feeds on fish and crustaceans. Present fishing grounds: estuaries and beaches with a centre in Veracruz State, Mexico. Caught mainly with bottom gill nets and hook-and-line; a sports fish. Marketed mostly fresh. Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Distri bution: Coast of Mexico from Tampico to Belize.

Snooks inhabit sh allow coastal waters, estuaries, and brackish lagoons, of- ten penetrating fresh waters. Some species grow to large sizes (Centropomus undecimalis to 130 cm), and all are good quality foodfish. Although none of the Western Central Atlantic species is subjected to a special fish- ery, most of them are of local importance, especi ally in Central and South America and on some of the Antilles. Snooks are an important game fish. FAO statistics report l andings ranging from 1 081 to 3 138 t from 1995 to 1999. Similar families occurring in the area Sciaenidae: only 1 or 2 spines in anal fin. Serranidae: lateral line not extending to hind margin of caudal fin. lateral line not reaching margin of caudal fin 1 or 2 spines Serranidae Sciaenidae Perci formes: Percoidei: Centropomidae 1287 Key to the species of Centropomidae occurring in the area (modified from Rivas, 1986) Note: lateral scales are counted along the longitudinal scale row immediately above the lateral line to the cau- dal-fin base. 1a. Anal-fin soft rays 7, r arely 8, pectoral-fin soft rays 13 to 15, mod ally 14; pectoral fin much shorter than pelvic fin; second anal-fin spine straight or slightly sigmoid and slightly outcurved dist ally; anterior part of head upturned; lateral scales 61 to 72, usu ally 64 to 67 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Centropomus pectinatus 1b. Anal-fin soft rays 6, r arely 5 or 7, pectoral-fin soft rays 14 to 17 mod ally 15 or 16; pectoral fin about as long as or longer than pelvic fin; second anal spine slightly incurved anterior part of head not upturned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(cid:1) 2 2a. Lateral scales 49 to 59 (pored lateral-line scales to caudal-fin base 48 or 49) . Centropomus ensiferus 2b. Lateral scales 67 to 92 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (cid:1) 3 3a. Lateral scales 79 to 92, third dorsal-fin spine higher than fourth when erect . Centropomus par allelus 3b. Lateral scales 67 to 78 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (cid:1) 4 4a. Dorsal-fin soft rays 9 or 10, r arely 8; gill rakers 8 to 10, usu ally 8 or 9, on lower limb of first arch, not including rudiment; scales around caudal peduncle 22 to 28, usu ally 24 to 27; third dorsal-fin spine much higher than fourth when erect . . . . . . . . Centropomus undecimalis 4b. Dorsal-fin soft rays 9, r arely 8 or 10; gill rakers 9 to 12, usu ally 10 or 11, on lower limb of first arch not including rudiments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(cid:1) 5 5a. Scales from origin of second dorsal fin to lateral line 10 to 13, usu ally 11 or 12; dorsal-fin soft rays 9; pectoral-fin soft rays 15 to 17 mod ally 16; lateral scales 73 to 80, usu ally 75 to 78 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Centropomus poeyi 5b. Scales from origin of second dorsal fin to lateral line 10 to 15, usu ally 11 to 14; lateral scales 68 to 79, usu ally 70 to 77; scales from origin of anal fin to lateral line 12 to 16, usu- ally 13 to 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Centropomus mexi canus List of spec(cid:1)ies occurring in the area T(cid:1)he symbol is given when species accounts are included. (cid:1) Centropomus ensiferus Poey, 1860. (cid:1) Centropomus mexi canus Bocourt, 1868. (cid:1) Centropomus par allelus Poey, 1860. (cid:1) Centropomus pectinatus Poey, 1860. (cid:1) Centropomus poeyi Chávez, 1961. Centropomus undecimalis (Bloch, 1792).

Maximum 35 cm, 0.4 kg; common to 15 cm, 0.2 kg. Habit, biology, and fisheries: Inhab its coastal waters, estuaries, and lagoons, penetrating into fresh waters; usu ally prefers less brackish or fresh water. Nothing is known about where this species may spawn and no ap- p arent extensive migrations known. Feeds on fish and crustaceans. Fished from estuaries, brackish lagoons, and fresh water in the Antilles and in Central and South America. Caught mainly with bottom gill nets, hook-and-line, and cast nets. Marketed mostly fresh. Separate sta- tistics are not reported for this species.

Taken from the bottom with temperatures ranging from 7.3 to 10°C (Ref. 51211).

Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none.

IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2018-10-12. Resilience: Medium (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).