Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Info
Micropogonias undulatus is a habitat generalist and is found in coastal waters up to a depth of about 100 meters on mud and sand bottoms as well as in seagrass and marsh fringe habitats.
The nursery and feeding grounds are located in estuaries, and the species is dependent on estuaries during the early juvenile stage.
Micropogonias undulatus feeds on bottom-dwelling organisms, mainly worms, crustaceans and fish, and can reportedly live up to 17 years, but specimens of more than 10 years are rare.
This species has a long spawning season that begins in late summer and extends into early spring, with peak spawning in late fall and winter.
The Atlantic umber is a multiple spawner and lays pelagic eggs (about one millimeter in diameter) in the coastal ocean in late summer, fall and winter.
The late larvae reach the estuaries (e.g. Delaware Bay, Chesapeake Bay, Pamlico Sound) after 30-60 days in the plankton, and the juveniles spend their first winter in the nursery habitats of the estuaries.
The generation time for this species is about 9 years, calculated using the following equation: Age at first sexual maturity + (maximum age - age at first sexual maturity)/2 = GL
The adults usually live on mud and sand bottoms in coastal waters and estuaries, where the breeding and feeding grounds are located.
Micropogonias undulatus is an excellent edible fish, it is sold fresh and frozen, is eaten fried, grilled, microwaved and baked.
However, the Atlantic umber is a highly i9nvasive species that has found its way from the Caribbean into European waters and is currently being detected in the Gulf of Cadiz (Portugal).
It will certainly not be long before Micropogonias undulatus also invades the Mediterranean.
Synonyms:
Bodianus costatus Mitchill, 1815 · unaccepted
Micropogon lineatus Cuvier, 1830 · unaccepted
Micropogon undulatus (Linnaeus, 1766) · unaccepted
Perca undulata Linnaeus, 1766 · unaccepted
Sciaena croker Lacepède, 1802 · unaccepted
The nursery and feeding grounds are located in estuaries, and the species is dependent on estuaries during the early juvenile stage.
Micropogonias undulatus feeds on bottom-dwelling organisms, mainly worms, crustaceans and fish, and can reportedly live up to 17 years, but specimens of more than 10 years are rare.
This species has a long spawning season that begins in late summer and extends into early spring, with peak spawning in late fall and winter.
The Atlantic umber is a multiple spawner and lays pelagic eggs (about one millimeter in diameter) in the coastal ocean in late summer, fall and winter.
The late larvae reach the estuaries (e.g. Delaware Bay, Chesapeake Bay, Pamlico Sound) after 30-60 days in the plankton, and the juveniles spend their first winter in the nursery habitats of the estuaries.
The generation time for this species is about 9 years, calculated using the following equation: Age at first sexual maturity + (maximum age - age at first sexual maturity)/2 = GL
The adults usually live on mud and sand bottoms in coastal waters and estuaries, where the breeding and feeding grounds are located.
Micropogonias undulatus is an excellent edible fish, it is sold fresh and frozen, is eaten fried, grilled, microwaved and baked.
However, the Atlantic umber is a highly i9nvasive species that has found its way from the Caribbean into European waters and is currently being detected in the Gulf of Cadiz (Portugal).
It will certainly not be long before Micropogonias undulatus also invades the Mediterranean.
Synonyms:
Bodianus costatus Mitchill, 1815 · unaccepted
Micropogon lineatus Cuvier, 1830 · unaccepted
Micropogon undulatus (Linnaeus, 1766) · unaccepted
Perca undulata Linnaeus, 1766 · unaccepted
Sciaena croker Lacepède, 1802 · unaccepted
