Ophioscion

Ophioscion
Ophioscion similus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Acanthuriformes
Family:	Sciaenidae
Genus:	Ophioscion Gill, 1863
Type species
Ophioscion typicus Gill, 1863[1]
Synonyms[1]
Sigmurus Gilbert, 1898

Ophioscion is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. These fishes are found in the Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans.

Taxonomy

Ophioscion was first proposed as a monospecific genus in 1863 by the American biologist Theodore Gill when he described Ophioscion typicus^[1] from the Pacific coast of Panama.^[2] Although FishBase recognises Ophioscion as a valid genus, Catalog of Fishes treats it as a synonym of Stellifer.^[1]

Species

Ophioscion has the following valid species:^[3]

• Ophioscion adustus (Agassiz, 1831) (Croaker)
• Ophioscion costaricensis Caldwell, 1958
• Ophioscion imiceps (Jordan & Gilbert, 1882) (Blinkard croaker)
• Ophioscion panamensis Schultz, 1945
• Ophioscion punctatissimus Meek & Hildebrand, 1925 (Spotted croaker)
• Ophioscion scierus (Jordan & Gilbert, 1884) (Point-Tuza croaker)
• Ophioscion simulus Gilbert, 1898 (Snub-nosed croaker)
• Ophioscion strabo Gilbert, 1897 (Squint-eyed croaker)
• Ophioscion typicus Gill, 1863 (Point-nosed croaker)
• Ophioscion vermicularis (Günther, 1867) (Vermiculated croaker)

References

1. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Sciaenidae". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
2. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Ophioscion". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
3. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Ophioscion". FishBase. February 2023 version.