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Black croaker (Cheilotrema saturnum) — Sciaenidae

Black croaker

Cheilotrema saturnum
Family: Sciaenidae
DD · Data Deficient

The Black croaker (Cheilotrema saturnum) is a saltwater fish of the family Sciaenidae that grows up to 45 cm.

Length
45 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3–46.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The black croaker is a croaker from the eastern Pacific, from California to Baja California. The species grows to about 45 cm and has a stocky, dark body. Like other croakers it can produce a drumming sound with its swim bladder. As a bottom-dweller it stays near the bottom in caves and crevices of exposed coasts and bays to about 46 metres depth, where it hunts mainly crabs and other crustaceans. It can live to twenty years. Owing to insufficient data the IUCN lists the species as Data Deficient (DD).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Black croaker?

The Black croaker has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly black and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Black croaker live?

The Black croaker lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Black croaker get?

The Black croaker grows to a maximum of about 45 cm. On average the species is around 30 cm.

Is the Black croaker dangerous to humans?

No, the Black croaker is harmless to humans.

Is the Black croaker edible?

Yes, the Black croaker is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zwarte ombervis verified
English name
Black croaker verified
Scientific name
Cheilotrema saturnum
Family
Sciaenidae
Other names
Black croaker; Croaker verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
45.0 verified
Average length (cm)
30.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Black inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
3 sourced
Max depth (m)
46.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
levensduur_max_jaar
20.0 verified

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen bij rotsige kusten sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Cheilotrema

More from the family Sciaenidae

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