Micropogonias undulatus
(A.K.A. - Croaker, Hardhead)

Fun Facts

Atlantic croaker are silvery greenish or grayish fish with brassy spots on their side.

They have 3 to 5 pairs of small barbels on their chin.

They produce the characteristic drumming sound of their family, Sciaenidae, by vibrating their swim bladder with special muscles, just like the Black Drum.

They are one of the most abundant inshore, bottom-dwelling fish from the Chesapeake Bay south to Florida.

Atlantic croaker are bottom-dwelling creatures.

They eat marine worms, mollusks, crustaceans, and occasionally fish.

In turn Atlantic croaker are eaten by many other fish, including striped bass, flounder, shark, weakfish, spotted seatrout, and bluefish.

Illustrations by Diane Rome Peebles
Provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of Marine Fisheries Management

  Return to Kid's Fish Facts