Genus: Pogonias, Black Drum Croaker, Drum

POGONIAS

DRUM

Body oblong, moderately deep, compressed; head low, mouth below snout, nearly horizontal; chin with 5 pores and 3 pairs of small barbells, 8-22 more along edge of lower jaw; lower teeth in throat molar-like, fused in triangular plate; gill rakers short and stout; preopercle smooth; top corner of gill opening notched; dorsal fin with deep notch separating spiny and soft parts, XI slender spines, 19-22 rays; anal fin small, with II spines, 5-7 rays; pectoral fin short, pale, not reaching anus; the lateral line extends to the center of the end of the tail fin.

A genus with two West Atlantic species, one in our area.