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Menticirrhus undulatus  (Girard, 1854)

California kingcroaker
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Native range | All suitable habitat | Point map | Year 2100
This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.
Menticirrhus undulatus   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Image of Menticirrhus undulatus (California kingcroaker)
Menticirrhus undulatus
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Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Sciaenidae (Drums or croakers)
Etymology: Menticirrhus: Latin, mentum = beard, chin + Latin, cirrus = curly.

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 14 m (Ref. 9118).   Subtropical, preferred ?; 34°N - 19°S, 122°W - 70°W

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Eastern Pacific: California, USA to Peru.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 71.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2850); max. published weight: 3.9 kg (Ref. 2850); max. reported age: 8 years (Ref. 56049)

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Occur along sandy shores and in bays, usually in sandy surfs of exposed outer coast. Usually found in small groups; larger fish are more solitary. Feed on sand crabs, other small crustaceans, and worms (Ref. 9118). Spawning begins in July (Ref. 9118). Pelagic spawners (Ref. 56049). Cannot produce croaking sounds due to lack of air bladder. Considered a good food fish and is common in markets (Ref. 9118).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Pelagic spawner (Ref. 56049).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H. Hammann, 1983. A field guide to Pacific coast fishes of North America. Boston (MA, USA): Houghton Mifflin Company. xii+336 p. (Ref. 2850)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Harmless




Human uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
FAO(Publication : search) | FisheriesWiki | Sea Around Us

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