Distinguishing Characteristics |
Body somewhat deep, head rounded with steep profile, snout pointed; color silvery, with a blue or purple iridescent tint; sometimes with faint blotches on sides; sometimes with blue line under eye; eye and mouth situated far apart; mouth reaches to or close to anterior part of eye; teeth conical or canine-like in front, molar-like on sides; pectoral fin long, reaching to anal fin origin; snout and area between eye and mouth (suborbital area) unscaled; auxiliary process (bony spine at axil of pelvic fins) present; tail fin with dark margins; snout dusky. |
Similar Species |
Many other porgies have some kind of markings between the eye and snout. The area is just dusky in whitebone porgies. Most other porgies have 14-15 rays in their pectoral fins, The whitebone porgy usually has 16. |
Habitat |
Gulf, on soft bottoms |
Maximum Size |
46 cm (18 in), common to 30 cm (12 in) |
Fin Element Counts |
D. XII,12: A. III,10 (explain) |
Other Common Names |
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Previous Scientific Names |
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Comments |
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State size/bag limits |
None; Check for state record. |