Teleostei (teleosts) >
Eupercaria/misc (Various families in series Eupercaria) >
Sciaenidae (Drums or croakers)
Etymology: Odontoscion: Greek, odous = teeth + Greek, skion, skiaina = barbel, red mullet (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Cuvier.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 30 m (Ref. 9710). Tropical; 22°N - 25°S, 92°W - 36°W (Ref. 56868)
Western Atlantic: Florida, USA and Cuba to Brazil. Absent in the Bahamas.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 26340); common length : 18.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3702); max. published weight: 13.70 g (Ref. 118626)
Dorsal spines (total): 11 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 22 - 25. No barbels; brownish silver with dark dots on scales; a large black spot at base and axil of pectoral fins (Ref. 13442).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.
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).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
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. (Ref. 7251)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
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