Species: Centropomus ensiferus, Swordspine snook

Centropomus ensiferus Poey, 1860

Swordspine snook

Body oblong, compressed, moderately deep; upper head profile straight to slightly concave; mouth large and protractile, lower jaw protruding; teeth small, in bands; margin of preopercle serrated; gill rakers 22-27; dorsal rays VIII + I,10 (rarely 9), 3rd spine < 4th; anal fin short, III strong spines, 5-7 (usually 6), second spine very stout, curved, very long, reaching to or beyond level of tail fin base when depressed; pectoral soft rays 14-17, fin about as long as pelvic; pelvics insert a little behind pectoral base, with I strong spine and 5 rays; tips of pelvic fins reach to or past anus; scales large, rough, lateral scales (immediately above lateral line) 49-59 (usually 50-57); 6-9  (usually 6-8) scales between lateral line and origin of 2nd dorsal fin, 9-11  between lateral line and anal fin origin; lateral line extends to the end of the forked tail fin.