Descriptions: Line 6
Atlantic Croaker ( Micropogonias undulatus)
The Atlantic croaker occurs from Massachusetts to the Gulf of Campeche, Mexico. They
are benthic species, living in coastal waters, in the lower portions of freshwater
rivers, and in Lake Pontchartrain. They have a rounded snout, two dorsal fins, an
inferior mouth, and 3-5 pairs of barbels on the chin. Body coloration is grayish or
silver on the upper portion of the body and white on the venter. They also have bronze
colored, iridescent, oblique-shaped bars along the side of the body. They ingest marine
worms, and as they reach adult sizes, they also eat large crustaceans and fishes.
Speckled Trout ( Cynoscion nebulosus)
The speckled trout or spotted seatrout is one of the most important sport fishes in
Louisiana. It occurs from Massachusetts to Florida and from Florida through the Northern
Gulf of Mexico, and southward into Texas and Mexico. It is common in Lake Pontchartrain.
It possess two dorsal fins, a silvery body color with a pattern of black spots along
the upper side that extend onto the dorsal and caudal fins, and a pair of canine teeth
at the front of the upper jaw. It reaches a maximum size of 3 feet and more than 17
pounds. Scientific data suggests that speckled trout may live as long as 18 years.
Speckled trout are most abundant in shallow inshore vegetated habitats.
Fat Sleeper ( Dormitator maculatus)
The fat sleeper occurs in coastal areas of the Atlantic basin from North Carolina
to Brazil and throughout the Gulf of Mexico and in Lake Pontchartrain. It also traverses
freshwater and can be found in the lower portions of coastal rivers and streams. Sleepers,
members of the Family Eleotridae, appear similar to gobies. However, most species
of sleepers are larger than gobies, and sleepers lack the fused pelvic fins characteristic
of gobies. They are small in size, not reaching more than 10 inches in length, butmostare
much smaller. The fat sleeper is brown or tan in color, often with vertical bars of
lighter coloration along the side of the body, a feature most pronounced in juveniles.
One of the distinguishing characteristics is a series of dark bars radiating out from
the eye in a ventral and posterior direction. Little information is known regarding
the fat sleeper’s ecology and diet.
Clown Goby ( Microgobius gulosus)
The clown goby is an attractive species that lives in inshore water habitats of estuaries,
but also in the lower reaches of coastal rivers and streams. They have a very large
range in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Basins, occurring from the east coast of
Florida to Vera Cruz, Mexico. They are small in size, not reaching lengths greater
than 3 inches. The clown goby possesses a large head and mouth, canine-like teeth
on the outer edge of the lower jaw, elongated dorsal spines (2-5) in the first dorsal
fin, and fused pelvic fins. Body coloration is olive to tan, and there is a lateral
band from the opercle to the base of the caudal fin terminating in a caudal spot.
Read descriptions of each fish in the poster.