Species: Cynoscion microlepidotus, Smallscale Weakfish

Cynoscion microlepidotus (Cuvier in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1830)

Smallscale Weakfish

Elongate, fusiform, compressed, oval cross-section; head low, not spongy on top; eye moderate; mouth large, oblique, lower jaw slightly projecting; teeth in multiple rows with 1-2 large canines at tip of upper jaw, inner row of teeth on lower jaw widely spaced, enlarged, increasing in size towards rear; gill rakers long and slender, 8-11; no pores or barbels on chin; 2 pores on side of snout; margin of preopercle smooth; top corner of gill opening notched; dorsal rays X + I, 22-25; anal rays II, weak spines, 8-10; pectoral fins < pelvic fins; rear margin of tail with blunt angular point; scales very small, all smooth, 140 transverse rows above lateral line; body scales smaller than lateral line scales; soft dorsal almost entirely covered with small scales; lateral line arched anteriorly and straight well before level of anus,extends to the center of the end of the tail fin.

Body uniform silvery, grey to greenish; whitish on belly; tip of spiny dorsal dark; upper rays of pectoral, front part of anal and tail yellowish.

Size: reaches 95 cm.

Inhabits sand and mud bottoms of coastal waters and estuaries.

Depth: 1-30 m.

Colombia to SE Brazil.