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Banded croaker (Paralonchurus brasiliensis) — Sciaenidae

Banded croaker

Paralonchurus brasiliensis
Family: Sciaenidae
LC · Least Concern

The Banded croaker (Paralonchurus brasiliensis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Sciaenidae that grows up to 34 cm.

Length
33.7 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0–50.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The banded croaker is a croaker from the western Atlantic, along the coasts of South America. The species grows to about 34 cm and has a streamlined, silvery body with oblique dark stripes and short chin barbels. Like other croakers it makes drumming sounds with its swim bladder. It schools over sand and mud bottoms of shallow coastal water and hunts small crustaceans, worms and fish. It is a local food fish. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Banded croaker?

The Banded croaker has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Banded croaker live?

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

How big does the Banded croaker get?

The Banded croaker grows to a maximum of about 34 cm. On average the species is around 25 cm.

Is the Banded croaker dangerous to humans?

No, the Banded croaker is harmless to humans.

Is the Banded croaker edible?

Yes, the Banded croaker is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Gebande ombervis verified
English name
Banded croaker verified
Scientific name
Paralonchurus brasiliensis
Family
Sciaenidae
Other names
Banded croaker; Drum verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
33.7 verified
Average length (cm)
25.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Max depth (m)
50.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Netvisserij 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 Paralonchurus

More from the family Sciaenidae

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