sheepshead

Sheepshead
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Sparidae Genus: Archosargus Species: A. probatocephalus
Binomial name
Archosargus probatocephalus Walbaum, 1792

See also: California sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher).

See also: Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens).

The sheepshead, Archosargus probatocephalus, is a marine fish that grows to 30 in (760 mm), but are common from 5 to 8 in. They are deep and compressed in body shape with 5 to 6 dark bars on the side of the body over a gray background. It is found in muddy, shallow water, often over oyster beds, around piers or rock jetties. Along with the other Porgy, Sheepshead are related to the North American Panfish. They range up and down the Western Atlantic seaboard (including North and South America), and the Gulf of Mexico, but are absent from the Caribbean. Its flesh is considered to have excellent taste and consistency. Other names include freshwater drum and silver bass.

The fish is the namesake of the body of water and neighborhood of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn in New York City, where the fish was once prevalent.

References

• Archosargus probatocephalus (TSN 169189). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 19 March 2006.
• "Archosargus probatocephalus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. November 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.

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