Silver compressed body that is anteriorly deep and tapers toward a lanceolate (pointed) tail. Head slopes upwards toward dorsal fin, may be slightly concave, with downward angled jaw. Yellow tinge in fins. Deeply notched dorsal fin that may look like two detached fins.
Average Maximum Size:
20.32 cm (8 in)
Adults Distinguishing Characteristics:
Stardrum have a distinctively short blunt bulldog-like head and a lanceolate (pointed) tail fin. Silver Perch have a more rounded tail fin and a more moderately elongated snout.
Juveniles Distinguishing Characteristics:
Juvenile Silver Perch can be distinguished from juvenile Stardrum by the presence of dusky horizontal body lines and a truncate tail fin.
Range:
Virginia to northwest Caribbean & Gulf of Mexico
Habitat:
Found in coastal waters and estuaries with sandy mud bottoms.
