Argyrosomus regius

Meagre ( Argyrosomus regius )

As an eagle fish or croaker ( performed in the fish trade as maigre French or English. Meager ) is in the Eastern Atlantic from occurring, up to 2.3 meters long and sometimes more than 100 kilograms Argyrosomus regius ( = Sciaena aquila ( Lacepede, 1803) ) denotes the family of croakers ( Sciaenidae ). However, sometimes the bear smaller fish species from the western Atlantic the name eagle fish, such as croakers Cynoscion arenarius, Micropogonias undulatus and Pogonias cromis, and the American saw shark Pristiophorus schroederi from the family of Sägehaie.

Features

The eagle fish lives, usually not away from the coast, in or over depths of 15 to 300 meters and also goes into the brackish water. The name is derived from the well ( in almost all Sciaeniden ) arched head profile line.

Its southern limit of distribution is about 6 ° south latitude, while he penetrates to the north by the English Channel to the North Sea, or on the southern coasts of Ireland and Britain. It also inhabits the Mediterranean Sea ( in its southeastern part but rarely) and the Black Sea (rare) and even one of the few species that have migrated through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea (see Lessepssche migration). " Lost " until he has already Iceland, Norway, the Baltic Sea and the Indian Ocean ( where to South Africa and Japan, some related, some of them similar large species live ). His food are, besides floating crustaceans (shrimp), fish such as Clupeidae, Mugilidae and Atherinidae - he is considered the largest croaker fish hunter straight out and therefore also between the other smaller mandibular border teeth some more fangs. The teeth of the fused lower Pharyngealia are but clumsy as can be Knead also prey fish digestive thus without significant loss of substance, before they reach the stomach. Barbels are lacking. The color is a silvery white, back and fins are beautiful (red- ) brown. Mention is often that the oral cavity mucous membrane such as the salmon was yellow. The scales are very small, but noticeable (the fish is rough). Fins formula: D1 X -XI, D2 II/27-33, A II/7-8.

Behavior

Like all croakers also generates the eagle fish with the help of strong muscles in his swim bladder for acoustic communication deep sounds. By means of special, more than 30 millimeters large otoliths in the organ of equilibrium can hear the sounds of conspecifics. This happens primarily during the spawning season in the spring when the fish seek in droves the warmest coasts of their territory, so as those of the Maghreb countries.

Use

Since ancient times the Sciaena is a valued food, now also an important commercial and sport fishing; in Spain and France, it is already taken into aquaculture - even with the known negative consequences.

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