Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Eupercaria/misc

Family: Sparidae

Genus: Archosargus

Species: Archosargus probatocephalus (Walbaum, 1792)

Climate Zone

Location

• Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada and northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. Absent in Bermuda, the Bahamas, the West Indies and Grenada (Ref. 7251, 26938).

Biology

Inhabits bays and estuaries. Freely enters brackish waters; sometimes enters freshwaters (Ref. 26938). Commonly found around pilings. Caught by anglers from jetties or rocky shores (Ref. 9988). Feeds mainly on mollusks and crustaceans. An excellent food fish. Marketed fresh and frozen; eaten broiled, microwaved and baked (Ref. 9988).

Habitat

brackish

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Threat to Humans

Harmless