Law croaker
📖 Overview
Found over mud and sandy bottoms, enters coastal lagoons and estuaries. Feeds on small fish and crustaceans. Flesh highly appreciated; caught by artisanal fishers .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25 - 27. Diagnosis: body elongated; mouth short and large, chin without barbels; teeth fine . Dorsal with 10 spines in the first part; second part of dorsal fin with 1 spine and 25-27 soft rays; second anal spine about half the length of the 1st anal fin soft ray; pectoral fins short, about 18-20% SL; maxilla extending to posterior half of eye; 8-10/1/5-7 (total 14-18) gill rakers on 1st gill arch; gill rakers short, about as long as gill filament at angle between lower and upper part of gill arch .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Law croaker is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 0 - 150 m. Tropical; 16°N - 17°S
🌿 Ecology
small fish and crustaceans
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corvina senegalla | Cuvier | 1830 | Synonym |
| Cynoscion macrognathus | - | - | Synonym |
| Johnius brachygnathus | Bleeker | 1863 | Synonym |
| Johnius senegalla | Cuvier | 1830 | Synonym |
| Otolithus brachygnathus | Bleeker | 1863 | Synonym |
| Pseudotolithes brachygnathus | Bleeker | 1863 | Synonym |
| Pseudotolithus brachygnathus | Bleeker | 1863 | Synonym |
| Sciaena sauvagei | Rochebrune | 1880 | Synonym |
| Sciaena senegalensis | Günther | 1860 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 667 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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