Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 1 - 60 m (Ref. 9626). Tropical; 21°N - 26°S, 90°W - 34°W
Western Atlantic: Antilles and Costa Rica to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Also Honduras (Ref. 26938).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 11.1  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 31.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5217); common length : 20.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3702); max. published weight: 500.00 g (Ref. 5217)
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24 - 26; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 7 - 8. Colour silvery grey, darker above. A dark spot at bases of pectoral fins. Pelvic and anal fins often yellowish. A medium-sized to small fish, short and robust. Mouth very large, strongly oblique, lower jaw projecting. Teeth very small and sharp, set in 1 or 2 rows along edges of jaws. Chin without barbels, but with 4 minute pores. Snout with 5 marginal pores, no rostral pores. Gas bladder with a pair of small, horn-like anterior appendages. Sagitta (large earstone) thick and short (Ref 51721).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.
Inhabits coastal waters, usually found over mud and sandy mud bottoms (Ref. 3702). Also in estuaries (Ref. 3702). Important food fish.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Cervigón, F., 1993. Los peces marinos de Venezuela. Volume 2. Fundación Científica Los Roques, Caracas,Venezuela. 497 p. (Ref. 9626)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; bait: occasionally
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