Home · Sciaenidae · Bairdiella
Bairdiella (Bairdiella icistia) — Sciaenidae

Bairdiella

Bairdiella icistia
Family: Sciaenidae
LC · Least Concern
NativeIntroduced

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

Length
30 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Eastern Pacific; coastal waters, estuaries and river mouths.
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Bairdiella?

Get the app

Description

The ronco croaker is a croaker (Sciaenidae) from the eastern Pacific. The species has an elongate, silvery body and can produce drumming sounds with its swim bladder. It inhabits coastal waters, estuaries and river mouths. It has been introduced by humans into the Salton Sea, a warm, saline inland lake, where it became established. It feeds on crustaceans, worms and small fishes. It is a food fish. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bairdiella?

The Bairdiella has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Drums with the swim bladder; introduced into and established in the Salton Sea.

Where does the Bairdiella live?

The Bairdiella lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Eastern Pacific; coastal waters, estuaries and river mouths.

How big does the Bairdiella get?

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

Is the Bairdiella dangerous to humans?

No, the Bairdiella is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Bairdiella edible?

Yes, the Bairdiella is commonly eaten.

More photos

Bairdiella (Bairdiella icistia) — Sciaenidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Alberto Alcalá, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Bairdiella (Bairdiella icistia) — Sciaenidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Alberto, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Bairdiella (Bairdiella icistia) — Sciaenidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Alberto, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Bairdiella (Bairdiella icistia) — Sciaenidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Alberto, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Bairdiella?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Bairdiella is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Bairdiella verified
Scientific name
Bairdiella icistia
Family
Sciaenidae
Other names
Ronco 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 inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Eastern Pacific; coastal waters, estuaries and river mouths. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Crustaceans, worms and small fishes sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Drums with the swim bladder; introduced into and established in the Salton Sea. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Bairdiella

More from the family Sciaenidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Bairdiella?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Bairdiella is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Bairdiella? Get the app