Home · Sciaenidae · Cameroon croaker
Cameroon croaker (Pseudotolithus moorii) — Sciaenidae

Cameroon croaker

Pseudotolithus moorii
Family: Sciaenidae
LC · Least Concern

The Cameroon croaker (Pseudotolithus moorii) is a brackish-water fish of the family Sciaenidae that grows up to 50 cm.

Length
50 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
15.0–100.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Highly prized

Description

The Cameroon croaker is a croaker of the family Sciaenidae (drums) reaching about 50 cm. The elongate, silvery-grey body has a yellowish tinge and a terminal mouth. Like other drums it can make a drumming sound with muscles against its swim bladder. The species forms schools over sand and mud bottoms of coastal water and estuaries along the West African coast and tolerates brackish water. On and above the bottom it searches, mainly at night, for shrimps, small crustaceans, worms and small fish. With its tasty flesh the Cameroon croaker is a valued commercial fish for the West African coastal fishery.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Cameroon croaker?

The Cameroon croaker has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Cameroon croaker live?

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

How big does the Cameroon croaker get?

The Cameroon croaker grows to a maximum of about 50 cm. On average the species is around 25 cm.

Is the Cameroon croaker dangerous to humans?

No, the Cameroon croaker is harmless to humans.

Is the Cameroon croaker edible?

Yes, the Cameroon croaker is a highly prized food fish.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Kameroen-ombervis inferred
English name
Cameroon croaker verified
Scientific name
Pseudotolithus moorii
Family
Sciaenidae

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
50.0 verified
Average length (cm)
25.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish verified
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom verified
Min depth (m)
15.0 verified
Max depth (m)
100.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore verified
Social behaviour
Schooling verified
Territorial
No verified
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
No verified

For anglers

Edibility
Highly prized verified
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met zeepier of garnaal in kust- en estuariumwater; een gewaardeerde vangst sourced
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 Pseudotolithus

More from the family Sciaenidae

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