Silver seatrout

The silver seatrout (Cynoscion nothus), also known as white trout and silver weakfish, is a marine fish of the drum family Sciaenidae.

Silver seatrout
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Acanthuriformes
Family: Sciaenidae
Genus: Cynoscion
Species:
C. nothus
Binomial name
Cynoscion nothus

Distribution

The species is found in the western Atlantic, across the eastern areas of coastal North America and in the Bahamas. It occurs in marine and brackish areas normally at depths of 2-18 m,[2] reaching 30 m on occasion.[1] The fish looks like a weakfish or speckled trout without specks or spots across the back. This fish is often easily confused with the sand seatrout.[2]

Description

Silver seatrout are largely silver with a dusky gray back and a white belly. Like many weakfish species, they have vampire-like fangs on their upper jaw, well as smaller teeth throughout the entire mouth. Their mouths are also often a bright yellow. Their fins are tinged yellow, except for the upper dorsal fin, which matches the gray color of the back. Adults have an average length of 14-17 cm, and uncommonly up to 36 cm.[2] Individuals generally have a maximum lifespan of two years.[1] Individuals over 36 cm have been occasionally recorded, such as the case in Texas where the state record for a silver seatrout is 24 inches (61 cm).[3]

Diet

Silver seatrout diets consist of crustaceans and small fish. [2]

References
  1. Chao, L., Espinosa-Perez, H. & Barbieri, L. (2020). "Silver Seatrout". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  2. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2020). "Cynoscion nothus" in FishBase. 7 2020 version.
  3. https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/action/staterecords.php?env=SW&age_group=all&list=0&browse=Submit
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