Scientific Name
Centropomus undecimalis

Common Name
Common snook

Biology
Inhabits coastal waters, estuaries and lagoons, penetrating into freshwater; usually at depths less than 20 m (Ref. 3713). Feeds on fishes (Gobiidae, Gerreidae, Engraulidae) and crustaceans (shrimps and crabs) (Ref. 35237). Congregates at mouths of passes and rivers during the spawning season, May through September (Ref. 3713). Seasonal movements into freshwater occur but poorly understood (Ref. 3713). Marketed fresh (Ref. 5712). Valued game fish and an excellent food fish (Ref. 26938). The world record for hook and line is a 53-lb., 10 ounce fish caught at Parismina Ranch, Costa Rica (Ref. 13442).

Classification

Classified By

Bloch, 1792

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Snooks (Centropomidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: southern Florida (USA), southeastern coast of the Gulf of Mexico, most of the Antilles and Caribbean coast of Central and South America extending southward to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; also North Carolina and Texas, USA (Ref. 7251).

Range

29°N - 23°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

25 °C

Water Temperature To

31 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

22 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; reef-associated; amphidromous (Ref. 51243); depth range ? - 22 m (Ref. 26912)

Trophic Level

4.41 s.e. 0.78 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

140 cm

Common Length

50.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5005 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (46 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.3-0.49; tm=4; tmax=7; Fec=3 million)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated