Menticirrhus littoralis (Holbrook, 1847)
Gulf kingcroaker
Menticirrhus littoralis
photo by NOAA\NMFS\Mississippi Laboratory

 Family:  Sciaenidae (Drums or croakers)
 Max. size:  48.3 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 1,380.0 g
 Environment:  demersal; depth range - 10 m, oceanodromous
 Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Virginia, USA and the continental coast of the Gulf of Mexico to Rio Grande del Sur, Brazil.
 Diagnosis:  Grayish brown above, shading to silvery below, no prominent bars. Lower jaw has single, stout, peg-like barbel with pore at tip. Scales on belly smaller than those on side (Ref. 26938).
 Biology:  Occurs usually in coastal waters over sandy and muddy bottoms; juveniles are abundant in the surf zone. Sometimes enters estuaries. Feeds mainly on worms and crustaceans. Excellent food fish (Ref. 26938).
 IUCN Red List Status:   (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  harmless
 Country info:   
 

 Entered by: Luna, Susan M. - 17.10.90
 Modified by: Froese, Rainer - 22.12.05
 Checked by: Torres, Armi G. - 23.08.94

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