Southern kingcroaker (Menticirrhus americanus) fish species and information / pictures of Southern kingcroaker - Menticirrhus americanus

Southern kingcroaker (Menticirrhus americanus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Menticirrhus americanus

Common Name
Southern kingcroaker

Biology
Inhabits coastal waters, usually over sandy-mud to hard sand bottoms. Common along beaches. Juveniles occur usually in water of lower salinity.

Classification

Classified By
Linnaeus, 1758
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Perch-like fish (Perciformes)
Family
Drums or croakers (Sciaenidae)

Distribution

Region
Western Atlantic
Distribution
Western Atlantic: New York to Texas, USA and Bay of Campeche to Buenos Aires, Argentina; absent in southern Florida and the Antilles.
Range
41°N - 51°S

Environment

Climate
Subtropical
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
Unknown m
Depth To - meters
40 m
Zone
demersal
Environment
Marine; brackish; demersal; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range ? - 40 m (Ref. 9626)
Trophic Level
3.5 s.e. 0.50 Based on diet studies.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
True
Occurs in Fresh Water
False
Occurs on Reefs
False
Is kept in Aquariums
False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
50.0 cm
Common Length
30.0 cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.5020 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Vulnerability
Moderate vulnerability (38 of 100)
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2)
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Not Evaluated