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Steindachner's drum (Umbrina steindachneri) — Sciaenidae

Steindachner's drum

Umbrina steindachneri
Family: Sciaenidae
DD · Data Deficient

The Steindachner's drum (Umbrina steindachneri) is a saltwater fish of the family Sciaenidae that grows up to 47 cm.

Length
47 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
15.0–100.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Highly prized

Description

Steindachner's drum is a croaker of the family Sciaenidae (drums) reaching about 47 cm. The elongate, silvery-grey body bears oblique rows of dark streaks and has an inferior mouth with a short, stout chin barbel with which the fish probes the bottom. Like other drums it can make a drumming sound with muscles against its swim bladder. The species lives over sand and mud bottoms of the continental shelf along the West African coast. On the bottom it searches, mainly at night, for worms, small crustaceans and molluscs. With its tasty flesh it is a valued commercial and sport fish; the IUCN has too little data to assess the stock (DD).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Steindachner's drum?

The Steindachner's drum has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Steindachner's drum live?

The Steindachner's drum lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Steindachner's drum get?

The Steindachner's drum grows to a maximum of about 47 cm.

Is the Steindachner's drum dangerous to humans?

No, the Steindachner's drum is harmless to humans.

Is the Steindachner's drum edible?

Yes, the Steindachner's drum is a highly prized food fish.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Steindachners ombervis inferred
English name
Steindachner's drum verified
Scientific name
Umbrina steindachneri
Family
Sciaenidae

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
47.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
Yes verified
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater 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, garnaal of schelpdier boven zandbodems; 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 Umbrina

More from the family Sciaenidae

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