Species: Centropomus undecimalis, Common Snook

Centropomus undecimalis (Bloch, 1792)

Common Snook

Body oblong, compressed, slender; upper head profile slightly concave; mouth large and protractile, lower jaw protruding, long - extends past eye at rear; teeth small, in bands; margin of preopercle serrated; gill rakers 11-14; dorsal rays VIII + I, 10 (rarely 9 or 11), 3rd spine >> 4th; 1st dorsal triangular; anal fin short, III strong spines, 5-7 (usually 6), 2nd spine robust, relatively straight and short, </= 3rd spine when erect, spines not reaching to tip of front anal rays or to base of tail fin when depressed; pectoral soft rays 14-16 (usually 15-16), fin about as long 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) 67-77 (usually 68-75); 10-14 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; black lateral line; fins dusky; tail fin often bicolored, top lobe yellowish, bottom lobe sooty.

Size: to 140 cm.

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

Depth: 0-25 m.

S Carolina to southern Brazil.