Distinguishing Characteristics |
Body elongate, oval-shaped, deep and wide; color brownish to black on back, sides and belly lighter; head rounded, snout short, eye large; lobe on upper rear edge of gill cover; dorsal fin single, longer than anal fin, 7-8 short stout spines anteriorly; pelvic fins fold into broad shallow groove; mouth large, extending past anterior eye margin; caudal fin often edged in black; iris golden. |
Similar Species |
Similar to the barrelfish. The barrelfish is greenish to brown where the black driftfish is blackish to brown; the barrelfish's eyes are smaller than the snout length, the black driftfish's are larger; dorsal fin ray counts are 19-21 in the barrelfish, 22-25 in the black driftfish. |
Habitat |
Gulf, deep water, young sometimes hang around flotsam |
Maximum Size |
60 cm (23 1/2 in) |
Fin Element Counts |
D. VII-VIII, 22-25; A. III,16-17 (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. |