Genus: Cynoscion, Weakfish Croaker, Weakfishes

CYNOSCION

WEAKFISHES

Body elongate, fusiform, compressed, oval cross-section; head low, not spongy on top; eye moderate; mouth large, oblique; front of top jaws with 1 pair of large pointed canines; no barbels or pores on chin; preoperculum smooth; top corner of gill opening notched; dorsal with long base, deep notch, VII-XI slender spines, 20-30 rays; anal fin with II small (< ½ length of 1st ray) weak spines, 7-13 rays; scales large, rough on body, smooth on head; the lateral line extends to the center of the end of the tail fin.

A new world, tropical to warm temperate genus with about 24 species; 10 species in our region, 1 endemic, 3 NW Atlantic, 1 W Atlantic and 5 SW Atlantic.