Species: Centropomus pectinatus, Tarpon Snook

Centropomus pectinatus Poey, 1860

Tarpon Snook

Body oblong, compressed, deep; upper head profile concave, front upturned; mouth large and protractile, lower jaw protruding; teeth small, in bands; margin of preopercle serrated; gill rakers 19-23, excluding rudiments; dorsal rays VIII + I, 9 (rarely 8 or 10), 3rd spine > 4th; anal fin short, III strong spines, 7-8 (usually 7), 2nd anal spine straight or slightly sigmoid, with tip curved forwards, not reaching to tip of 3rd when erect, nor to base of tail fin when depressed; pectoral soft rays 13-15, fin much shorter than 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) 61-72 (usually 64-67); scales from lateral line to origin of 2nd dorsal fin 9-13 (usually 10-12), 12-13 (11-14) between lateral line and anal fin origin; lateral line extends to the end of the forked tail fin.

Overall yellow-brown to greenish-brown above, silvery below; dark lateral line; fins dusky; pelvic with a large dark spot or mark near tip.

Size: to 56 cm.

Inhabits bays, estuaries, lagoons, entering freshwater; prefers low salinity to freshwater over marine conditions.

Depth: 0-15 m.

Florida to southern Brazil.