Jamaica weakfish (Cynoscion jamaicensis)

Scientific name: Cynoscion jamaicensis Vaillant & Bocourt, 1883

Jamaica weakfish (Cynoscion jamaicensis)

The Jamaica weakfish (Cynoscion jamaicensis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Sciaenidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, Panama and the Greater Antilles to Argentina. Including Lesser Antilles. Also reported in Nicaragua.

Biology

Found over sand or mud bottoms from the coastline to about 60 m depth; rarely in waters with a depth of less than 18 m. Juveniles inhabit river estuaries. Oviparous, with high fecundity. Feed on fishes and crustaceans like crabs and shrimps. Important food fish.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Cynoscion jamaicensis
Family
Sciaenidae (Drums or croakers)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
50.0
Common length
35.0
Depth range
70 m (230 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range ? - 70 m, usually 18 - 55 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Panama and the Greater Antilles to Argentina. Including Lesser Antilles. Also reported in Nicaragua.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Fec = 47,000)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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