Centropomidae
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 Common snook, Centropomus undecimalis | ||||||||||||
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Centropomus |
The Centropomidae are a family of freshwater and marine fishes in Order Perciformes, including the common snook or róbalo, Centropomus undecimalis. Prior to 2004, three other genera were placed in Centropomidae in subfamily Latinae, which has since been raised to the family level and renamed Latidae because a cladistic analysis showed the old Centropomidae to be paraphyletic. Each of the four species(fat,swordspine,common, and tarpon) can be easily identified by their lateral black line. They are good tablefare. They are a sought after gamefish and tricky to catch.
Dating from the upper Cretaceous, the centropomids are of typical percoid shape, distinguished by having two-part dorsal fins and, frequently, a concave shape to the head.
Róbalo’ or Snook are world-renowned game fish of the Centropomidae Family – Genus Centropomus that are much sought after by fly fishing enthusiasts and sportfishing charters. Six Atlantic and six Pacific Ocean species are currently recognized as scientifically valid. All are known to inhabit Central America and all are excellent gamefish. There is no evidence found of the individual species crossing from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean or vice-versa through the Panama Canal. Interestingly, all Robalo or Snook species are capable of inhabiting both fresh and saltwater and are known to seasonally occupy Gatun Lake, which forms a water bridge connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as an integral part of the Panama Canal. Of the twelve species only 4 are known to reach sizes in excess of 10 lbs. – two Atlantic Ocean species (Centropomus Undecimalis and Centropomus Poeyi) and two Pacific Ocean species (Centropomus Viridis and Centropomus Nigrescens). The eight species of smaller Robalo usually grow to less than 6 lbs. and can be readily distinguished by from the four larger species by their noticeably longer anal spine, anal fin configuration and body shape. The four large species are immediately recognizable by because of their more streamlined appearance given by the longer narrower body shape. Many individual species of Robalo bear a close resemblance to one another although they may be from the same or different oceans so identification is best left up to experts. The two Atlantic Ocean large Robalo species (Centropomus Undecimalis and Centropomus Poeyi) are virtually identical in appearance. They can usually only be distinguished by the number of gill rakers each possesses. The Robalo or Common Snook (Centropomus Undecimalis) commonly has eleven to thirteen non-rudimentary gill rakers and the Mexican Snook (Centropomus Poeyi) is most often found to possess fifteen to eighteen non-rudimentary gill rakers. The Pacific Ocean “Robalo Ñato” or White Snook (Centropomus Viridis) is also a dead ringer for the Common Snook (Centropomus Undecimalis). The distinguishing feature is also the non-rudimentary gill raker count with thirteen to fifteen for the White Snook (Centropomus Viridis). They act, breed, grow and fight virtually the same. Curiously, laboratory reared specimens of the Common Snook (Centropomus Undecimalis) showed meristic variations in vertebrae, fin ray and gill raker numbers not observed in specimens from the wild. These variations are suspected to be due to diet and growth rates. Large Robalo caught in Lake Gatun Panama invariably cause a wealth of confusion. The IGFA requires verification of the species by a designated authority for world record claims. The two Pacific Ocean species of large Robalo (Centropomus Viridis and Centropomus Nigrescens) are somewhat easier to distinguish. The ‘Robalo Redondo’ or Black Snook (Centropomus Nigrescens) can be differentiated by three visually apparent characteristics when compared to the ‘Robalo Ñato’ or White Snook (Centropomus Viridis): Centropomus Nigrescens, Black Snook VS White Snook Centropomus Viridis
1)The body of Centropomus Nigrescens, Black Snook while similarly elongate is rounder and heavier in general appearance – being thicker through the middle than Centropomus Viridis, White Snook. 2) The head of Centropomus Nigrescens, Black Snook is bigger and the undershot jaw, characteristic of all Róbalo is far less pronounced than in Centropomus Viridis, White Snook. 3) Most importantly, the fourth dorsal spine of Centropomus Nigrescens, Black Snook is taller than the third. In both species the first two dorsal spines are hardly noticeable. In large specimens these first two spines are only a quarter of an inch long, while the third spine is over two inches in length. Therefore if the first long dorsal spine is longer than all the others are, it is a ‘Robalo Ñato’ or White Snook (Centropomus Viridis), however if the first long dorsal spine is shorter than the second long dorsal spine it is a ‘Robalo Redondo’ or Black Snook (Centropomus Nigrescens).
REFERENCE
Snook or Robalo types as game fish
References
- "Centropomidae". FishBase. Ed. Rainer Froese and Daniel Pauly. October 2004 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2004.
- Centropomidae (TSN 167642). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 20 December 2004.
- Otero, Olga (May 2004). "Anatomy, systematics and phylogeny of both Recent and fossil latid fishes (Teleostei, Perciformes, Latidae)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 141 (1). doi:. Retrieved on 2006-08-15.
Snook or Robalo types as game fish
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; from the article "Centropomidae". Image Credit.
