Species: Polydactylus virginicus, Barbu, Barbu Threadfin

Polydactylus virginicus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Barbu, Barbu Threadfin

Elongate, compressed; snout short, conical, translucid, overhangs mouth; eyes large, longer than snout, with fatty cover, at front of head; mouth moderate, below, with bottom lip extending to front, but no top lip; tooth bands of top jaw touching in center; preopercle serrated; gill rakers 26-30 (mean 28); two well separated dorsal fins, VIII + I, 12; anal fin base short, III,13 (11-14); pectoral fin low on side, 14-16 (mean 15) rays on main part, plus lower portion consisting of 7 free filaments; horizontal length of total fin base shorter than upper jaw; pelvics well behind pectoral base, under 1st dorsal; tail strongly forked; scales rough; lateral line pored scales 54-63 (mean 58); 6-8 (mean 7) scales above lateral line, 10-12 (mean 11) below; lateral line extends onto tail fin.

Head and body olive to blue-grey above, whitish or yellowish below; snout translucent; dorsal and tail fins yellowish to dark, with black edges; pelvic and anal fins yellowish, with pale edges; pectoral fin pale, darker towards base.

Size: grows to 33 cm.

Inhabits sand-mud bottoms of bays, estuaries, and river mouths, also occurs along sandy beaches.

Depth: 0-55 m.

N Carolina to Brazil.