| Sciaenidae (Drums or croakers) |
| 230 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 103 kg |
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benthopelagic; brackish; marine; depth range 15 - 300 m, oceanodromous |
| Eastern Atlantic: Norway to Gibraltar and Congo, including the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Migrated to the Red Sea via the Suez Canal. |
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Dorsal spines (total): 10-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 27-29. Rough scales, Second dorsal fin (soft ray) twice as long as first, spiny rayed dorsal fin (Ref. 35388). |
| Adults are found inshore and shelf waters, close to bottom as well as in surface and mid-waters, pursuing shoals of clupeids and mugilids. They congregate inshore to spawn during spring and summer. Juveniles and sub-adults enter estuaries and coastal lagoons (Ref. 3593). Both adults and juveniles are migratory moving along shore or offshore-onshore in response to temperature change (Ref. 11025). Feed on fishes and swimming crustaceans. |
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Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 19 February 2020 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
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Reproduces in Mauritanian waters, particularly in Lévrier Bay. At the start of the year (Jan.-Feb.), it concentrates on the plateau south of Cape Timiris then it moves north in schools of more than 200 to 300 tons through the channels of Banc d'Arguin, along the islands of Tidra and Arel. It reaches Lévrier Bay in May/June, where it spawns then disperses again on the continental shelf. The optimal temperature of the species is between 17 and 20°C. Variations in temperature influence the displacement of this coastal population, which in turn, is exploited by sportfishermen. The young develop in Lévrier Bay until they reach a size of about 47 cm or approx. 2 years. For a long time, this fish was the source of fortune for the fishing industry of Nouadhibou. It was processed into dried salted fish (Ref. 5377). Also Ref. 3593, 55783. |
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