Genus: Sciaenops, Drum, Red Drum Croaker

SCIAENOPS

DRUM

Body elongate, lower profile horizontal; snout overhangs small, horizontal mouth; teeth simple, in bands on jaws; chin without barbells, with 5 pores; snout with 5 pores at front 5 on side; 12-14 short, stout gill rakers; preopercle smooth in adult, densely serrated in juvenile; top corner of gill opening notched; dorsal fin continuous, IX + I, with deep notch between spines and rays, 23-25 soft rays; anal fin with short base, II, 8-9, 2nd spine slender, ~ ½ length of 1st ray; tail fin with straight edge in adult, angular point in juvenile; scales rough on body, smooth on head and breast; soft dorsal with 1-2 rows of scales along base; inner ½ of tail fin scaled; one or more large spots on upper tail base; the lateral line extends to the center of the end of the tail fin.

A northwest Atlantic genus with a single species.