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Rake drum (Stellifer rastrifer) — Sciaenidae

Rake drum

Stellifer rastrifer
Family: Sciaenidae
LC · Least Concern

The Rake drum (Stellifer rastrifer) is a brackish-water fish of the family Sciaenidae that grows up to 32 cm.

Length
32.1 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0–40.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

Stellifer rastrifer, the rake stardrum, is a small drum of the family Sciaenidae from coastal waters of eastern South America. The species has a stocky, silvery to yellowish body with a large head and reaches about 32 cm. It lives in shallow coastal waters over soft, muddy bottoms and is abundant in brackish estuaries. The diet consists mainly of small crustaceans, on which it often hunts in schools. Like other drums it can produce drumming sounds with its swim bladder. The species is mainly processed into by-products such as fish meal and is of limited local commercial importance.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Rake drum?

The Rake drum has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Rake drum live?

The Rake drum lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Rake drum get?

The Rake drum grows to a maximum of about 32 cm. On average the species is around 15 cm.

Is the Rake drum dangerous to humans?

No, the Rake drum is harmless to humans.

Is the Rake drum edible?

The Rake drum is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Hark-sterombervis sourced
English name
Rake drum verified
Scientific name
Stellifer rastrifer
Family
Sciaenidae
Other names
Rake stardrum; Yellow drum verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
32.1 verified
Average length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
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 Stellifer

More from the family Sciaenidae

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