Species: Micropogonias undulatus, Atlantic Croaker

Micropogonias undulatus (Linnaeus, 1766)

Atlantic Croaker

Moderately elongate and compressed; prominent, overhanging snout; mouth moderately large; teeth villiform, in bands, outer row teeth of upper jaw slightly enlarged; chin with 8 pores and 3-4 pairs of small barbels along inner edge of lower jaws; snout with 10-12 pores, 5-7 at front, 5 on side; margin of preopercle strongly serrated, 3-4 strong spines at the angle; gill rakers 22-29, short and slender; top corner of gill opening notched; dorsal rays X+I, 28-29 (27-30); anal rays II, 2nd spine strong, 8-9; tail margin a short, blunt point, both lobes slightly concave; 8-9 transverse scale rows between lateral line and origin of dorsal fin; the lateral line extends to the center of the end of the tail fin.

Silvery, with pinkish cast, darker above; dark spots scattered on back, oblique dark lines on flanks; spiny dorsal with dark dots, edge black; other fins pale to yellowish; pectoral base dark.

Size: to 50 cm.

Inhabits mud and sand bottoms in coastal waters; also in brackish estuaries.

Depth: 1-200 m.

Massachusetts to Yucatan.