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Species: Centropomus poeyi, Mexican Snook

All Families:   All Genera:   All Species:

snout not upturned
D2 I, 9
lower gill rakers 9-12
pectoral 15-17, = / > pelvic
A III, erect 2nd spine not > 3rd, not reaching C base
scales: 73-80 laterals, LL to A origin 12-15, D2 to LL 10-13

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.


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