Family SCIAENIDAE 



THE DRUM FAMILY 



In this family of fishes the body is compressed and somewhat elon- 

 gate, and the shape much like that of a bass. All parts are covered with 

 ctenoid scales, which extend over the bases of the vertical fins. The 

 lateral line is well developed and extends across the caudal fin. The head 

 is large and covered with scales. There are teeth on the jaws. There is 

 no supplemental maxillary bone on the upper jaw, which is somewhat 

 protractile. The pseudobranchiae are well developed. There is a slit 

 behind the fourth gill. The gill-membranes are free from the isthmus. 

 The dorsal fin is deeply notched, and the soft part is much longer than 

 the spinous part. The anal fin has 1 or 2 spines. The ear bones, or 

 otoliths, are well developed. The air bladder is large; the pyloric caeca 

 are few. 



These fishes are carnivorous. They have the power of producing a 

 peculiar grunting sound, which is supposed to be made by forcing air 

 from the main portion of the air bladder into one of its smaller divisions. 

 This famil}' contains many genera and species, most of which are marine. 

 The marine species include the fishes known as croakers, drummers, 

 yellowtails, and some of the sea basses. Only one genus is found in the 

 fresh waters of North America. 



GENUS Aplodinonis Rafinesque 



There is only one species of this genus, which occurs in the fresh 

 waters of the central United States and ranges northward into Canada 

 and southward to Guatemala. 



FRESHWATER SHEEPSHEAD (White Perch, Freshwater Drum, 

 Mah-nah-she-gun of the Red Lake Chippewas) 



Aplodinotus grunniens Rafinesque 



The freshwater sheepshead (Figure 51) is a large, coarse fish with a 

 body form similar to that of the carpsucker. The body is oblong with an 

 elevated, compressed back. It is silvery in color. Some specimens are 

 almost white, others quite dark. The upper parts are darker than the 

 lower. Commercial fishermen distinguish between white and black 

 sheepsheads. The snout is blunt. The mouth is large and horizontal; the 

 lower jaw does not extend beyond the upper. The ordinary teeth are 

 slender and closely crowded into velvety bands; the pharyngeal teeth 

 are well developed and are blunt and closely set, or paved. The pre- 

 opercle is slightly serrate. The dorsal spines are strong and high and are 



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