New Data on the Age, Size and Feeding of the Shi Drum Umbrina cirrosa (Sciaenidae) off the Black Sea Coast of Crimea

Abstract

The shi drum Umbrina cirrosa is a rare poorly studied fish species in the Black Sea. The largest individual for this water area was recorded off the coast of the Crimea; a male, whose total length was 784 mm, standard length 706 mm, body weight 5515.2 g, age 4 years; gonads of the maturity stage III had a weight of 33.11 g. Mollusks Solen marginatus and Abra segmentum, polychaete of the family Scalibregmatidae, and the jaguar round crab Xantho poressa were found in the diet composition. The paper presents a morphological description of otoliths (sagittae). The information about the known cases of the shi drum capture in the Black and Azov seas is considered. It is revealed that the maximum size of individuals of the species in the Black Sea is higher than in the Mediterranean Sea; possible causes of geographical variability of the sizes are analyzed. It is shown that this species is one of the fastest growing fish in the Black Sea.