HomeFreshwater aquarium fishOther freshwater fishBlack drum Black drum (Pogonias cromis) Scientific name: Pogonias cromis Linnaeus, 1766 The Black drum (Pogonias cromis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Sciaenidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, Nova Scotia to Florida, Gulf of Mexico, the Antilles (uncommon), and the southern Caribbean coast; also from the Orinoco delta to Argentina. BiologyFound usually over sand and sandy mud bottoms in coastal waters, especially in areas with large river runoffs. Juveniles often enter estuaries. Feeds mainly on crustaceans, mollusks and fishes.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific namePogonias cromisFamilySciaenidae (Drums or croakers)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length170Common length50.0Depth range10 m (33 ft)EnvironmentMarine; brackish; demersal; oceanodromous; depth range 10 - ? mClimateSubtropicalDistributionWestern Atlantic: Nova Scotia to Florida, Gulf of Mexico, the Antilles (uncommon), and the southern Caribbean coast; also from the Orinoco delta to Argentina.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariumsResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.17; tm=3-5; tmax=43) More other freshwater fishLined soleAchirus lineatusPumpkinseedLepomis gibbosusShort-tailed pipefishMicrophis brachyurus brachyurusFinescale tigerfishDatnioides microlepisFreshwater garfishXenentodon cancilaSouth American lungfishLepidosiren paradoxaSee all other freshwater fish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026