Species: Centropomus poeyi, Mexican Snook

pectoral 15-17, = / > pelvic
Centropomus poeyi Chávez, 1961
Mexican 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 15-18, lower rakers 10-11 (9-12); dorsal rays VIII + I, 9 (8-10), 3rd spine > 4th; anal fin short, III strong spines, 6, 2nd anal spine slightly curved, not longer than 3rd when erect, not reaching to base of tail fin when depressed; pectoral soft rays 16 (15-17), fin ~same length as pelvic; pelvics insert a little behind pectoral base, with I strong spine and 5 rays; tips of pelvic fins not reaching anus in adults; scales large, rough, lateral scales (immediately above lateral line) 73-80 (usually 75-80); scales from lateral line to origin of 2nd dorsal fin 10-13 (usually 11-12), 12-15 scales 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.
Size: to 90 cm.
Inhabits bays, estuaries, lagoons, entering freshwater; prefers low salinity to freshwater over marine conditions.
Depth: 0-20 m.
SW Gulf of Mexico to Belize.

High Resolution Map Download
- Salinity
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- Brackish
- Freshwater
- Marine
- Inshore/Offshore
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- Inshore
- Inshore Only
- Water Column Position
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- Bottom
- Bottom + water column
- Mid Water
- Near Bottom
- Habitat
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- Sand & gravel
- Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
- Soft bottom only
- Water column
- Beach
- Estuary
- Freshwater
- Mangrove
- Mud
- FishBase Habitat
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- Demersal
- Feeding Group
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- Carnivore
- Data
- Diet
-
- Data
- Bony fishes
- Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
- Egg Type
-
- Data
- Pelagic
- Pelagic larva
- Global Endemism
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- All species
- Greater Caribbean endemic
- West Atlantic Endemic
- Regional Endemism
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- Continent
- Continent only
- GC endemic
- All species
- Residency
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- Resident
- Climate Zone
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- Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
- IUCN Red List
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- Least concern
- Listed
- CITES
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- Not listed
- Length Max
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- 90
- Depth Range Min
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- 0
- Depth Range Max
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- 20