Summary ²

The sheepshead, Archosargus probatocephalus, is a marine fish that grows to 30 in (760 mm), but commonly reaches 10 to 20 in. It is deep and compressed in body shape, with 5 to 6 dark bars on the side of the body over a gray background. It has sharp dorsal spines. Its diet consists of oysters, clams, and other bivalves, and barnacles, fiddler crabs, and other crustaceans. It has a hard mouth, with several rows of stubby...

Biology ³

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).

Description ⁴

Archosargus probatocephalus is a deep-bodied, compressed fish that reaches 91 cm (35.8 inches) in length, and 9.6 kg (21.2 pounds) or more in weight. The back is elevated behind the head, which is deep and sloping in profile. The snout is short with the mouth inferior and nearly horizontal. The anterior teeth are incisor-like, with posterior molars set further back. There are 6-7 gill rakers on lower limb of the first gill arch. Scales are finely serrate. There is a single dorsal fin, the spinous portion of which is more elongate than the soft portion. There are 12 strong dorsal spines and 10-12 soft rays. The anal fin bears 3 spines, the second of which is the most enlarged, and 10-11 soft rays. The caudal fin is forked. There are 44-49 lateral line scales. Body color is generally gray or green-yellow base color, marked with 5-7 vertical black bars. The dorsal, anal and ventral fins are typically black or gray to dusky, while the caudal and pectoral fins are more greenish in tone. Coloration is more distinct in young fishes (Hildebrand and Schroeder 1927; Hoese and Moore 1977; Johnson 1978). Juvenile sheepshead are brownish in color and have a median line along the ventral surface. In addition to the vertical black bars, there are also 3 black spots: one set behind the isthmus, one beneath the pectoral fin base, and one set anteriorally to the anal fin (Hildebrand and Cable 1938).

Distribution ⁵

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Size ⁶

Length: 90 cm

Habitat ⁷

Habitat Type: Marine

Comments: Mainly bays and estuaries. Adults frequent rocky reefs and jetties, wrecks, oyster beds, and pilings. Juveniles in grass beds over mud bottom. Not uncommon in low salinity situations, but rare in pure fresh water. Spawns along sandy shores (Manooch 1984). Spawning probably occurs offshore (Lee et al. 1980).

Associations ⁸

Sheepshead are commonly landed with white mullet, black mullet, jacks, and mojarras (Murphy 2000).

Diet ⁹

Feeds mainly on mollusks and crustaceans

Reproduction ¹⁰

Spawns in spring; eggs hatch in about 40 hours at 76-77 F (Manooch 1984).

Link to Access Genomic Data ¹¹

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=331524&lvl=0

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Kevin Bryant, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/mentalblock/7213359676/
2. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archosargus_probatocephalus
3. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) FishBase, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/20842248
4. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/11527067
5. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28766934
6. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28766939
7. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28766937
8. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/11527066
9. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) WoRMS for SMEBD, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/28476791
10. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28766935
11. (c) matbio, all rights reserved

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• FishBase
• FishSource
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• VertNet
• World Register of Marine Species

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