Scientific Name
Cynoscion steindachneri

Common Name
Smalltooth weakfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21-24; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 10 - 12. Colour greyish above, whitish below. Dorsal fin dusky, upper margin of pectoral fins orange, pelvic fins and anal fin pale, caudal fin grey with a dark margin. Inside of mouth orange. Mouth large, distinctly oblique, lower jaw projecting. Tip of upper jaw without enlarged canines. Chin without barbels or pores. Snout with only 2 marginal pores. Pectoral fins much shorter than pelvic fins. Gas bladder with a pair of medium-sized, nearly straight, horn-like anterior appendages. Soft portion of dorsal fin almost entirely covered with small scales (Ref 51721).

Classification

Classified By

Jordan, 1889

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Drums or croakers (Sciaenidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Guyana to Bel?m, Brazil.

Range

11°N - 9°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

10 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; depth range 10 - ? m (Ref. 3702)

Trophic Level

3.25 s.e. 0.53 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

110 cm

Common Length

45.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: experimental

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (56 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated