Teleostei (teleosts) >
Eupercaria/misc (Various families in series Eupercaria) >
Sciaenidae (Drums or croakers)
Etymology: Menticirrhus: Latin, mentum = beard, chin + Latin, cirrus = curly.
More on author: Girard.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 14 m (Ref. 9118). Subtropical; 37°N - 21°S, 123°W - 68°W
Eastern Pacific: California, USA to Peru.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 71.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2850); max. published weight: 3.9 kg (Ref. 2850); max. reported age: 8 years (Ref. 56049)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Occur along sandy shores and in bays, usually in sandy surfs of exposed outer coast. Usually found in small groups; larger fish are more solitary. Feed on sand crabs, other small crustaceans, and worms (Ref. 9118). Spawning begins in July (Ref. 9118). Pelagic spawners (Ref. 56049). Cannot produce croaking sounds due to lack of air bladder. Considered a good food fish and is common in markets (Ref. 9118).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Pelagic spawner (Ref. 56049).
Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H. Hammann, 1983. A field guide to Pacific coast fishes of North America. Boston (MA, USA): Houghton Mifflin Company. xii+336 p. (Ref. 2850)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
