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 from the Pacific coast of Panama. Although FishBase recognises Ophioscion as a valid genus, Catalog of Fishes treats it as a synonym of Stellifer.
Species
Ophioscion has the following valid species:
- Ophioscion adustus <small>(Agassiz, 1831)</small> (Croaker)
- Ophioscion costaricensis <small>Caldwell, 1958</small>
- Ophioscion imiceps <small>(Jordan & Gilbert, 1882)</small> (Blinkard croaker)
- Ophioscion panamensis <small>Schultz, 1945</small>
- Ophioscion punctatissimus <small>Meek & Hildebrand, 1925</small> (Spotted croaker)
- Ophioscion scierus <small>(Jordan & Gilbert, 1884)</small> (Point-Tuza croaker)
- Ophioscion simulus <small>Gilbert, 1898</small> (Snub-nosed croaker)
- Ophioscion strabo <small>Gilbert, 1897</small> (Squint-eyed croaker)
- Ophioscion typicus <small>Gill, 1863</small> (Point-nosed croaker)
- Ophioscion vermicularis <small>(Günther, 1867)</small> (Vermiculated croaker)
References