Genus: Centropomus, Snook, Snooks
elongate
head pointed
head pointed
2 Ds
LL to end of forked C
mouth large & protractile
lower jaw projects
teeth small
lower jaw projects
teeth small
A: short base; III large, strong spines
CENTROPOMUS
SNOOKS
Body oblong elongate, compressed; head pointed, upper head profile straight to concave; mouth large and protractile, lower jaw protruding; teeth small, in bands; margin of preopercle serrated; two well separated dorsal fins: VIII + I, 8-11; anal fin short, III strong spines, 5-8 soft rays; pelvics insert a little behind pectoral base, with I strong spine and 5 rays; a forked tail fin; lateral line, which is dark, extends to the end of the tail fin; scales large, rough.
A new world tropical genus with 12 species. Six species occur in the Greater Caribbean, 5 W Atlantic and one endemic.
