Smooth weakfish (Cynoscion leiarchus)

Scientific name: Cynoscion leiarchus Cuvier, 1830

Smooth weakfish (Cynoscion leiarchus)

The Smooth weakfish (Cynoscion leiarchus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Sciaenidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, Panama to Santos, Brazil. Also reported in Nicaragua.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-24; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10. Silvery bluish on back, often with greenish reflections. Whitish on belly. Upper sides sometimes with inconspicuous minute dark dots. Soft portion of dorsal fin and caudal fin edged with black, pelvic and anal fins yellowish. Inside of opercle dark, visible externally. Mouth large, pointed, lower jaw projecting. Upper jaw with a pair of large canine-teeth at tip. Chin without barbel or obvious pores. Snout with 2 marginal pores. Gas bladder with a pair of curved, horn-like anterior appendages. Scales small, all cycloid (smooth). Soft dorsal-fin base with 1 or 2 rows of scales along its base (Ref 51721).

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Cynoscion leiarchus
Family
Sciaenidae (Drums or croakers)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
90.8
Common length
35.0
Depth range
25 m (82 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range ? - 25 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Panama to Santos, Brazil. Also reported in Nicaragua.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (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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