Iowa DNR
BioNet
River & Stream Biological Monitoring
Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Surveys
Physical Habitat Assessments

Freshwater Drum Aplodinotus grunniens

Family
Sciaenidae (Drums and Croakers)
Tolerance
Intermediate
Trophic Class
Benthic Invertivore
Is Exotic to Iowa?
False
Is Lithophilous Spawner?
False
Is Hybrid?
False
State Listing Status
Not Listed
Assessment Program Statistics

This species was found at 79 bioassessment sites, 0 rapid fish bioassessment sites, 31 fisheries assessment sites, and 1 fisheries presence-only assessment site. In total, it was collected at 110 distinct sites, or 7.3% of the 1513 total sites monitored by the bioassessment program. It is the 49th most commonly collected species.

The Freshwater Drum was collected in 115 bioassessment sampling sessions and 34 fisheries assessment sessions. It was present in 0 rapid bioassessment sessions and 1 presence-only session.

The biological assessment program has collected a total of 1,585 individual Freshwater Drum specimens, ranking it the #57 most collected fish.

Species Characteristics

A deep-bodied, silvery fish whose head and body slope steeply up from the snout to the dorsal fin, resulting in a hump-backed look. It has a long dorsal fin that is divided into two lobes. The first has 8 to 9 spines, and the second has a single spine with 24 to 32 soft rays. The anal fin has 2 spines with the second spine larger than the first. The pelvic fin has one spine with 5 rays. Ctenoid scales cover the body and upper head. The lateral line is complete and extends through the caudal fin. The back is gray, with silvery sides and white belly and lower region of the head. Adults commonly weigh up to 5-pounds.

Species Distribution Maps

HUC12 watersheds where this species has been found