Scientific Name
Cynoscion virescens

Common Name
Green weakfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 27-31; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 8. Greyish to brownish above, silvery below. Upper sides sometimes with inconspicuous minute dark dots. Dorsal fin dusky, its spinous portion black-edged. Soft dorsal fin with dark spots on each ray. Pectoral and pelvic fins as well as anal fin yellowish to orange. Caudal fin dusky. Inside mouth orange. Mouth large, distinctly oblique, lower jaw projecting. Upper jaw with a pair of large canine-like teeth at tip. Chin without barbels or pores. Snout with 2 marginal pores. Gas bladder with a pair of long, curved, horn-like appendages. Sagitta (large earstone) elongate, with a notch on dorsal margin. Soft portion of dorsal fin membranes unscaled except 2 or 3 rows of scales at base (Ref 51721).

Classification

Classified By

Cuvier, 1830

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Drums or croakers (Sciaenidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Nicaragua to Santos, Brazil.

Range

15°N - 24°S, 84°W - 34°W

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

6 m

Depth To - meters

70 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 6 - 70 m (Ref. 3702)

Trophic Level

4.03 s.e. 0.70 Based on food items.

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

115 cm

Common Length

65.0 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; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (59 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