Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Sciaenidae (Drums or croakers)
Etymology: Atractoscion: Greek, atraktos, arrow + Greek, skion, skiaina = barbel, red mullet (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 15 - 200 m (Ref. 3593), usually 100 - 200 m (Ref. 3593). Tropical, preferred 25°C (Ref. 107945); 14°N - 28°S
Eastern Atlantic: Angola to South Africa; single record known from Mauritania (Ref. 3593). Western Indian Ocean: off Mozambique and South Africa. Pacific Ocean: Eastern coast of Australia.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 65 - ? cm
Max length : 130 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4373); common length : 90.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9772); max. published weight: 25.0 kg (Ref. 4373)
Found in coastal waters, over sand muddy bottom. Juveniles enter estuaries. Adults feed on pelagic fishes at night. Often caught with Umbrina canariensis. Feeds on pelagic fish such as mackerel and horse mackerel (Ref. 36731). Marketed fresh, flesh highly esteemed (Ref. 9772).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Chao, L.N. and E. Trewavas, 1990. Sciaenidae. p. 813-826. In J.C. Quero, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post and L. Saldanha (eds.) Check-list of the fishes the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). JNICT, Lisbon; SEI, Paris; and UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 2. (Ref. 3593)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
More information
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
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