Genus: Menticirrhus, King-Croakers
elongate, rounded
snout long, conical, overhanging
snout long, conical, overhanging
D 19-27 rays
chin: 1 thick barbel with pore at tip
A 7, 1 weak spine
MENTICIRRHUS
KING-CROAKERS
Body elongate, rounded in cross-section, belly flat; head long, low; snout ~ conical, projecting beyond horizontal mouth, with slits and pores above mouth; short thick barbel on chin with a pore at its point and several more at its base; preopercle smooth to weakly serrated; gill rakers short; top corner of gill opening notched; dorsal X-XIII flexible spines, 19-27 rays; anal fin with short base, I weak spine, 7-9 rays; scales small, rough; the lateral line extends to the center of the end of the tail fin.
A new world, tropical to temperate genus with nine species; represented in our area by six endemics.
