Red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)

Scientific name: Sciaenops ocellatus Linnaeus, 1766

Red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)

The Red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Sciaenidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, Massachusetts in USA to northern Mexico, including southern Florida, USA.

Biology

Occurs usually over sand and sandy mud bottoms in coastal waters and estuaries. Abundant in surf zone. Feeds mainly on crustaceans, mollusks and fishes. Utilized fresh and frozen; can be pan-fried, broiled and baked.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Sciaenops ocellatus
Family
Sciaenidae (Drums or croakers)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
155
Common length
100.0
Depth range
10 m (33 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; demersal; oceanodromous; depth range 10 - ? m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Massachusetts in USA to northern Mexico, including southern Florida, USA.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.27; tmax=7; Fec~1 million)

Sources

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

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