Black Drum

Pogonias cromis

Black Drum

Status

Physical 

The black drum is a grey or black fish with a high arched back and light belly. They have 4-6 black vertical stripes on their sides, which appear as juveniles and fade with maturity. They also have small whisker-like barbels on their lower jaw and large teeth plates. With an average length of 19.7 in (50 cm) and a maximum recorded length of 67 in (170 cm), they are the largest drum species. Like other drums, they are named for the loud drumming noise that adults make when spawning.

Habitat

Black drum live in marine and brackish water habitats. They are bottom dwelling fish common in bays, lagoons, and river mouths. Juveniles tend to be in estuaries. Their native range spans from Nova Scotia to northern Mexico in the northern hemisphere, and southern Brazil to Argentina in the southern hemisphere.

Feeding 

Black drum are bottom feeders. They feed on molluscs and crustaceans, which they find using their barbels. Their strong teeth crush oysters and other shellfish.

Black Drum
Image by Chaotic42 on WIkimedia