Black drum are gray or black colored with a high arched back.

They get their common name from a large and elaborate swim bladder.

By using special muscles they can produce croaking or drumming sounds.

These fish have 10 to14 sensory chin barbels that they use to detect bottom-dwelling food items such as clams, oysters, mussels, and crabs.

They can crush these food items by using their cobblestone-like teeth (or pharyngeal tooth plates).

Black drum live a long time, with fish from age 7 to 57 years old observed in Chesapeake Bay.