Northern kingfish (Menticirrhus saxatilis)

Scientific name: Menticirrhus saxatilis Bloch & Schneider, 1801

Northern kingfish (Menticirrhus saxatilis)

The Northern kingfish (Menticirrhus saxatilis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Sciaenidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, Massachusetts to southern Florida in USA and Gulf of Mexico to Yucatan in Mexico.

Biology

Occurs usually in shallow coastal waters over sand to sandy mud bottoms. Common in the surf zone and in estuaries. Juveniles may enter tidal rivers and creeks of low salinity. Feeds mainly on worms and crustaceans. An excellent food fish.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Menticirrhus saxatilis
Family
Sciaenidae (Drums or croakers)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
46.0
Common length
30.0
Depth range
10 m (33 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 10 - ? m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Massachusetts to southern Florida in USA and Gulf of Mexico to Yucatan in Mexico.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.5)

Sources

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

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