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Shining drum (Larimus effulgens) — Sciaenidae

Shining drum

Larimus effulgens
Family: Sciaenidae
LC · Least Concern

The Shining drum (Larimus effulgens) is a saltwater fish of the family Sciaenidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Eastern Pacific
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The shining drum is a croaker from the eastern Pacific, along the coast of Central and South America. The species grows to about 30 cm and has a deep, shiny silvery body with an oblique, upturned mouth. Like other croakers it can produce a drumming sound with its swim bladder. As a bottom-dweller it lives over sandy and muddy bottoms of shallow coastal water and hunts shrimp and small fish. The fish is a local food fish and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Shining drum?

The Shining drum has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Obliquely upward-pointing mouth; produces a drumming sound with its swim bladder

Where does the Shining drum live?

The Shining drum lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water. Eastern Pacific

How big does the Shining drum get?

The Shining drum grows to a maximum of about 30 cm. On average the species is around 18 cm.

Is the Shining drum dangerous to humans?

No, the Shining drum is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Shining drum edible?

Yes, the Shining drum is commonly eaten.

More photos

Shining drum (Larimus effulgens) — Sciaenidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Julio Nuñez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Shining drum (Larimus effulgens) — Sciaenidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Charles Henry Gilbert (Public domain)
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All data

Identification

English name
Shining drum verified
Scientific name
Larimus effulgens
Family
Sciaenidae
Other names
Shining drum verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
30.0 verified
Average length (cm)
18.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Natural range
Eastern Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Shrimps and small fishes inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Bottom-dwelling croaker; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Obliquely upward-pointing mouth; produces a drumming sound with its swim bladder sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Angling with lures or (dead/live) baitfish by trolling, casting or drift fishing in open water. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Larimus

More from the family Sciaenidae

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