Home · Sciaenidae · Bearded croaker
Bearded croaker (Johnius dussumieri) — Sciaenidae

Bearded croaker

Johnius dussumieri
Family: Sciaenidae
LC · Least Concern

The Bearded croaker (Johnius dussumieri) is a brackish-water fish of the family Sciaenidae that grows up to 40 cm.

Length
40 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
5.0–50.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific; coastal waters and estuaries.
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Bearded croaker?

Get the app

Description

The sin croaker is a drum (Sciaenidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species has an elongate, silvery body. Like other drums it can make drumming sounds with its swim bladder. It lives in coastal waters and enters estuaries, often over soft bottoms. As a bottom fish it feeds on invertebrates and small fishes. It is marketed fresh, dried or salted. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bearded croaker?

The Bearded croaker has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Makes drumming sounds with the swim bladder; inhabits coastal waters and estuaries.

Where does the Bearded croaker live?

The Bearded croaker lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Indo-West Pacific; coastal waters and estuaries.

How big does the Bearded croaker get?

The Bearded croaker grows to a maximum of about 40 cm. On average the species is around 14 cm.

Is the Bearded croaker dangerous to humans?

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

Is the Bearded croaker edible?

Yes, the Bearded croaker is commonly eaten.

More photos

Bearded croaker (Johnius dussumieri) — Sciaenidae — 2
SAIAB (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Bearded croaker (Johnius dussumieri) — Sciaenidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — George Henry Ford (Public domain)
Bearded croaker (Johnius dussumieri) — Sciaenidae — 4
Randall, John E. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Bearded croaker (Johnius dussumieri) — Sciaenidae — 5
Randall, John E. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Bearded croaker?

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

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Bearded croaker verified
Scientific name
Johnius dussumieri
Family
Sciaenidae
Other names
Croaker; Drab jew fish; Dussumier's croaker; Dussumier's silver jew fish; Sin croaker; Dussumier's silver jewfish; Jew fish; Jewfish; Sharptooth hammer croaker; Sin-croaker; Whiskered croaker verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
40.0 verified
Average length (cm)
14.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) 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
Min depth (m)
5.0 verified
Max depth (m)
50.0 verified
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific; coastal waters and estuaries. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates 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
Makes drumming sounds with the swim bladder; inhabits coastal waters and estuaries. 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 Johnius

More from the family Sciaenidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Bearded croaker?

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

Get the app →
Is this the Bearded croaker? Get the app