Menticirrhus americanus (SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC )
Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Superclassis/Classis: Actinopterygii
Classis/Subclassis: Actinopteri
Subclassis/Infraclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Megacohors: Osteoglossocephalai
Supercohors: Clupeocephala
Cohors: Euteleosteomorpha
Subcohors: Neoteleostei
Infracohors: Eurypterygia
Sectio: Ctenosquamata
Subsectio: Acanthomorphata
Divisio/Superordo: Acanthopterygii
Subdivisio: Percomorphaceae
Series: Eupercaria
Ordo: Perciformes
Subordo: Percoidei
Superfamilia: Percoidea
Familia: Sciaenidae
Genus: Menticirrhus
Species: Menticirrhus americanus
Name
Menticirrhus americanus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Original combination: Cyprinus americanus
References
Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema Naturae per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis, Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Holmiæ: impensis direct. Laurentii Salvii. i–ii, 1–824 pp DOI: 10.5962/bhl.title.542: 321. Open access Reference page.
Menticirrhus americanus in the World Register of Marine Species
Vernacular names
English: Southern kingfish, southern kingcroaker, king whiting, Carolina whiting
Nāhuatl: Xohuilin
Nederlands: Koningsombervis
português: Betara
中文: 美洲無鰾石首魚
Menticirrhus americanus, the southern kingfish, southern kingcroaker, king whiting, Carolina whiting, sea mullet, roundhead,[3] or whiting, is a species of marine fish in the family Sciaenidae. It lives in shallow coastal waters on the western fringes of the Atlantic Ocean.
Description
The southern kingcroaker can grow to about 50 centimetres (20 in) but a more usual adult length is 30 centimetres (12 in).[4]
The southern kingcroaker is a slender fish, deepest about two fifths of the way along. The upper jaw projects further than the lower and the snout overhangs the mouth. There is a small barbel on the fleshy lower lip. The dorsal fin is divided into two parts. The number of spines and soft rays in the fins is indicative of the species and in M. americanus, the front part of the dorsal fin is broadly triangular and has 10 spines and the other part is long and has 1 spine and 22 to 25 soft rays. The pointed pectoral fins are large and the anal fin has 1 spine and 7 or 8 soft rays. The tail fin has a characteristic slightly concave upper lobe and a rounded lower lobe. The colour of the fish is silvery grey, sometimes with a coppery sheen, and paler grey below. There are sometimes several broad slanting bands of darker colour on the back of the fish.[4][5]
Distribution and habitat
The southern kingcroaker is a subtropical, demersal fish found in shallow waters in the western Atlantic Ocean.[4] It has a discontinuous range extending from New York southwards to Texas, and from Yucatán southwards to Buenos Aires, Argentina. The northern portion of its range is interrupted in its not being found in southern Florida and the southern portion of its range is interrupted by absence from the West Indies. It is found in places where the seabed is sand or mud, often on sandy beaches. The juveniles can tolerate low salinity levels and are often found in estuaries.[4][6]
Biology
The southern kingcroaker feeds on benthic invertebrates. The diet consists mainly of small crustaceans such as shrimps and crabs but amphipods, polychaete worms, molluscs and small fish are also eaten and it also scavenges for detritus and carrion.[4]
Spawning takes place from June to November in the area of Delaware Bay.[4]
Uses
The southern kingcroaker is fished both commercially and by beach anglers.[4]
References
Chao, L.; Espinosa-Perez, H.; Aguilera Socorro, O.; Haimovici, M. (2020). "Menticirrhus americanus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T195075A82668543. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T195075A82668543.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
Bailly, Nicolas (2011). "Menticirrhus americanus (Linnaeus, 1758)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
"Fish Species in Virginia Beach • Virginia Beach, VA".
Menticirrhus americanus (Linnaeus, 1758) : Southern kingcroaker FishBase. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
Harding, Stephen M. & Mark E. Chittenden Jr. (1987). "Reproduction, Movements, and Population Dynamics of the Southern Kingfish Menticirrhus americanus in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico" (PDF). NOAA Technical Report NMFS 49. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
Reyier, E.A; Shenker, J.M. & Christian, D. (May 5, 2008). "Role of an estuarine fisheries reserve in the production and export of ichthyoplankton". Marine Ecology Progress Series. 359: 249–260. Bibcode:2008MEPS..359..249R. doi:10.3354/meps07324. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
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