Pseudotolithus senegallus (Cuvier, 1830)
Law croaker
photo by IGFA

Family:  Sciaenidae (Drums or croakers)
Max. size:  230 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 13 kg
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 150 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Mauritania (Ref. 5377) to Angola.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25-27. Diagnosis: body elongated; mouth short and large, chin without barbels; teeth fine (Ref. 5377). Dorsal with 10 spines in the first part; second part of dorsal fin with 1 spine and 25-27 soft rays; second anal spine about half the length of the 1st anal fin soft ray; pectoral fins short, about 18-20% SL; maxilla extending to posterior half of eye; 8-10/1/5-7 (total 14-18) gill rakers on 1st gill arch; gill rakers short, about as long as gill filament at angle between lower and upper part of gill arch (Ref. 81656).
Biology:  Found over mud and sandy bottoms, enters coastal lagoons and estuaries. Feeds on small fish and crustaceans. Flesh highly appreciated; caught by artisanal fishers (Ref. 5377).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 17 March 2020 (A2bd) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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