Centropomus

Centropomus sp.

The Snooks ( Centropomus ) are a genus of fish from the group of Carangimorpharia. You are monotypic in the family of Centropomidae, if one takes the previously counted to this family subfamily Latinae with the genera Lates and Psammoperca in the newly furnished family Latidae. This is rejected in the latest revision of the teleost systematics, however; the above-mentioned genera are reallocated to the Centropomidae here.

Occurrence

All 12 species of Snooks live in the subtropical North America and in Central America in the coastal sea, brackish water and in rivers.

Features

Snooks are 36 centimeters to 1.40 meters long predatory fish, their bass -like, elongated appearance reminiscent of the European pikeperch. Striking is the indented forehead. The lower jaw is longer than the upper jaw. The lateral line extends to the deeply forked caudal fin and reaches the center of the tail fin end. Snooks have 24 vertebrae and seven Branchiostegalstrahlen.

Fins formula: Dorsal 1 VIII, dorsal 2 I/8-11, Anal III/5-8, Ventral I / 5

Species

• Centropomus armatus Gill, 1863
• Centropomus ensiferus Poey, 1860
• Centropomus medius Günther, 1864
• Centropomus mexicanus Bocourt, 1868
• Centropomus nigrescens Günther, 1864
• Centropomus parallelus Poey, 1860
• Centropomus pectinatus Poey, 1860
• Centropomus poeyi Chávez, 1961
• Centropomus robalito Jordan & Gilbert, 1882
• Common Snook ( Centropomus undecimalis ) ( Bloch, 1792)
• Centropomus unionensis Bocourt, 1868
• Centropomus viridis Lockington, 1877

Fossil record

The fossil Snook Cyclopoma gigas is from the Middle Eocene of northern Italy Monte Bolca Formation, which originated from deposits of the Tethys known.