- Back is bluish-brown, fading to brassy sides and a silvery-white belly
- Dark spot behind gill cover
- Only drum in Florida with a forked caudal fin (tail)
- Upper sides have 12 to 15 dark diagonal lines
Similar Species: Atlantic croaker, M. undulatus (has strongly serrated preopercle)
Size: Up to 14 inches
Habitat & Range
Coastal waters
Life History
Feeds on invertebrates and decaying material.
