Home · Sciaenidae · Armed croaker
Armed croaker (Bairdiella armata) — Sciaenidae

Armed croaker

Bairdiella armata
Family: Sciaenidae

The Armed croaker (Bairdiella armata) is a brackish-water fish of the family Sciaenidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The armed croaker is a croaker (Sciaenidae) from turbid coastal and estuarine water of the eastern Pacific. The species grows to about 25 cm and has an elongate, silver-grey body with stout spines at the front of the dorsal and anal fins and a large swim bladder with which it makes a drumming sound. As a bottom-oriented fish it searches over sand and mud for worms, small crustaceans and small fish. It is locally a food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Armed croaker?

The Armed croaker has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Armed croaker live?

The Armed croaker lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Armed croaker get?

The Armed croaker grows to a maximum of about 30 cm. On average the species is around 20 cm.

Is the Armed croaker dangerous to humans?

No, the Armed croaker is harmless to humans.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Gewapende ombervis sourced
English name
Armed croaker sourced
Scientific name
Bairdiella armata
Family
Sciaenidae
Other names
Armed croaker verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
30.0 verified
Average length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Bairdiella

More from the family Sciaenidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →