Northern Kingfish

Menticirrhus saxatilis

Also known as: King Whiting, Kingfish, Minkfish, Northern King Croaker, Northern King Whiting, Northern Whiting, Roundhead, Sea Mullet, Whiting

ALSO KNOWN AS

King Whiting
Kingfish
Minkfish
Northern King Croaker
Northern King Whiting
Northern Whiting
Roundhead
Sea Mullet
Whiting

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2020

Add a photo

Northern Kingfish adult, photographed at cotuit, United States — @richard · cotuit, United States · August 20191 / 1

Overview

Found in schools, over mud and sandy bottoms, in shallow, coastal waters, estuaries, and surf zones.

This fish has no air bladder so does not make a croaking sound that is characteristic of the rest of the family!

Drums are named for the repetitive throbbing or drumming sounds they make by beating their abdominal muscles against the swim bladder.

How to identify

COLOURS

Pattern: bars
Head & Mouth: barbels
Behaviour: makes sounds schooling

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

Habitat & where to find it

Range · Western Atlantic
Country only · 1

LIVES IN

Found in schools, over mud and sandy bottoms, in shallow, coastal waters, estuaries, and surf zones.

RANGE

Western Atlantic

Adult photos 1

Discussion

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ALL STAGES

FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

Deep dive

Taxonomy

kingdomAnimalia
phylumChordata
classTeleostei
orderEupercaria incertae sedis
familySciaenidae
genusMenticirrhus
speciesMenticirrhus saxatilis (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

SourcesWoRMS FishBase

Northern Kingfish

Overview

How to identify

Habitat & where to find it

Adult photos 1

Discussion

Deep dive

Taxonomy

More in the family

California Kingcroaker

Cubbyu

Freshwater Drum

Gulf Kingcroaker

Highhat

Jack-knifefish

Kathala Croaker

Meagre

Red Drum

Reef Croaker

Southern Kingcroaker

Spot Croaker