Species: Stellifer punctatissimus, Spotted Croaker

Stellifer punctatissimus Meek & Hildebrand, 1925

Spotted Croaker

Body oblong, robust, with humped back, maximum body depth 33-35% of SL; head low and short, cavernous but firm to touch on top; distance between eyes 9-9.6% SL; snout overhangs small, horizontal mouth; teeth on lower jaw simple, in bands; chin without barbel, with 5 pores; snout with 10-12 pores; preopercle with 8-9 teeth, those at angle not much enlarged; gill rakers 7-8 + 11-16, slender, longest is <1/2 length of gill filament at angle of gill arch; top corner of gill opening notched; dorsal rays X-XI + I, 22-25; anal rays II, 7 (rarely 8), 2nd spine short, about ½ length of 1st ray; pectoral fin 24.8-25.5% SL; tail fin long, bluntly pointed; scales on body and all or most of head rough; soft dorsal and anal fins with 1-2 rows of scales along their bases and small scales on membranes for 3/4 distance from base; the lateral line extends to the center of the end of the tail fin; lateral line pores 48-54

Dark grey, paler below, but with dark scale edges; fins dark grey to blackish; inside gill cover dark, visible from outside.

Size: grows to 25 cm.

Inhabits coastal waters on sandy mud bottoms, especially around beaches.

Depth: 1-50 m.

Belize to NE Brazil.