Small scale croaker (Nibea leptolepis)

Scientific name: Nibea leptolepis Ogilby, 1918

The Small scale croaker (Nibea leptolepis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Sciaenidae. Native range: Western Central Pacific, along coasts of northern Australia.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 28-31; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 7 - 8. Mouth large; upper jaw length 37-44 % of head length, lower jaw length 47- 52 % of head length. Mental pores in 3 pairs, the first close together, united by a crescent-shaped groove just behind symphysis. Teeth differentiated into large and small in both jaws. Second anal spine long, stiff, 42-53 % of head length. Lateral line scales 48-50, 14-17 scale rows above lateral line to origin of dorsal fin, 17 to 23 scale rows below lateral line to origin of anal fin (total 31-39 scale rows). Swim bladder carrot-shaped, with about 22 pairs of arborescent appendages along its sides; the first pair entering head beyond transverse of septum. Sagitta (large earstone) with a tadpole-shaped impression, the tail of which is J-shaped.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Nibea leptolepis
Family
Sciaenidae (Drums or croakers)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
22.0
Common length
17.0
Environment
Marine; brackish; benthopelagic
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Western Central Pacific: along coasts of northern Australia.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

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

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