Scientific Name
Cynoscion similis

Common Name
Tonkin weakfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-29; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10. Silvery grey on back, pale below. Trunk with dotted oblique stripes along scale rows. Inside opercle black, visible externally. Spinous dorsal-fin margin dark. Mouth large, slightly 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 straight, horn-like anterior appendages. Soft dorsal fin unscaled except 2 or 3 rows of small scales along its base (Ref 51721).

Classification

Classified By

Randall & Cervig?n, 1968

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Drums or croakers (Sciaenidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Colombia to northern Brazil. Also reported in Nicaragua (Ref. 13613).

Range

12°N - 4°N

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

20 m

Depth To - meters

60 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 20 - 60 m (Ref. 3702)

Trophic Level

3.97 s.e. 0.60 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

60.0 cm

Common Length

40.0 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: minor commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (37 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated