Common snook
VU

Common snook

Centropomus undecimalis

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_snook

Overview

The common snook is a species of marine fish in the family Centropomidae of the order Perciformes. The common snook is also known as the sergeant fish or robalo. It was originally assigned to the sciaenid genus Sciaena; Sciaena undecimradiatus and Centropomus undecimradiatus are obsolete synonyms for the species.

Common snook faces significant pressure from habitat degradation, particularly the destruction and alteration of critical coastal mangrove ecosystems and estuarine nursery areas. Overfishing and recreational angling pressure have reduced population numbers in many areas, while climate change threatens to alter water temperatures and salinity levels that are crucial for their reproductive success and juvenile survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

Inhabits warm coastal waters, mangrove creeks, estuaries, and lagoons, often moving between saltwater and brackish environments. Juveniles depend heavily on shallow mangrove nursery areas and seagrass beds, while adults frequent deeper coastal waters, inlets, and the lower reaches of rivers.

FRESHWATER· majorMARINE· major

Threatened in Argentina

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
Adonis BlueVU

Adonis Blue

Lysandra bellargus

Unknown
CR

Phlebopus bruchii

Declining
CR

Trichomycterus ramosus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Common snook classified as Vulnerable?
Common snook is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Common snook faces significant pressure from habitat degradation, particularly the destruction and alteration of critical coastal mangrove ecosystems and estuarine nursery areas. Overfishing and recreational angling pressure have reduced population numbers in many areas, while climate change threatens to alter water temperatures and salinity levels that are crucial for their reproductive success and juvenile survival.
Where does Common snook live?
Common snook occurs in Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, and Canada (plus 29 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Common snook?
The main threats to Common snook are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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