Leiostomus xanthurus (commonly known as the "Spot") can be found in marine areas along the Atlantic seaboard from the Gulf of Maine down the coast all the way to the mouth of the Rio Grande. The greatest abundance can be found in the stretch between the Chesapeake Bay and South Carolina (Florida Caribbean Science Center 2000; Husser 1999; Chesapeake Bay Program 2000).
Biogeographic Regions: atlantic ocean (Native )
Leiostomus xanthurus can reach a maximum of 36 centimeters but usually barely exceed a foot in length. Approximate lengths for fish ages 1-5 are 5.5 inches, 8.5 inches, 9.5 inches, 11.5 inches, and 13.5 inches, respectively. Characterized by and named for the dark, round, eye-sized spot behind the upper edge of the gill cover, these fish have deep, short, and compressed bodies. Their coloring is a bluish gray to silver with a gold tint on the sides. The fins are pale yellow--except for the dorsal and caudal fins which are a milky color. While there are approximately a dozen thin, oblique bars on the upper portion of the fish stretching from the gill to the tail, the dorsal fin has thirty rays while the anal fin has more than twelve rays. The tail is slightly concave and has no chin barbels. A lateral line goes all the way down to the tail. The spiny and soft parts of the dorsal fin are separated by a deep notch. These fish have short heads with a small mouth, which lack teeth on the lower jaw. There is no real distinction between males and females (Florida Caribbean Science Center 2000; Husser 1999; Chesapeake Bay Program 2000; Schultz 2001; EarthMax Development 2001).
Average mass: 227 g.
Other Physical Features: bilateral symmetry
Average mass: 247.5 g.
Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 4 years.
Leiostomus xanthurus are found in estuaries and coastal saltwaters roaming over sandy and muddy bottoms. They migrate seasonally--entering the bays and estuaries in the spring. They can go to waters as deep as 60 meters but usually stay in much shallower areas. They can tolerate a wide range of temperatures (35-95 degrees) and salinity (freshwater-37 ppt.) In fact, recent research has been conducted on the effects of salinity changes for juvenile Spot. During the experiment, the fish adjusted quickly to salinity changes, adapting better to an increase in salinity than a decrease. These remarkable adaptations of the young Spot might show how the Spot can emigrate from estuaries. Further research is expected to be conducted on whether or not the temperature of the water is important to the euryhaline Spot in salinity adaptation (Schultz 2001; Maryland Department of Natural Resources 2001; Miller and Moser 1994).
Aquatic Biomes: benthic ; rivers and streams; coastal
Leiostomus xanthurus are omnivores. They consume bottom dwelling, soft bodied (benthic) invertebrates and smaller, easily crushed crabs and shrimp. Polychaetes, crustaceans, worms, small fish, small plankton, and mullusks, as well as plant and animal detritus, are also favorites (Husser 1999; Chesapeake Bay Program 2000; Schultz 2001; Atlantic Edge 2001).
Spot make for fair eating because they are small in size and there is a great abundance of them. Leiostomus xanthurus are used for pet food processors; about 3000-4000 tons a year are used for this purpose. Spot are important recreational and commercial fish; in 1980 they were ranked third in the recreational fishing survey at 1.3 million fish. Spot are one of the most frequently caught fish by fishermen. Their flesh is excellent and can be fried fresh or after being stored in salt. The flesh is soft and has a good flavor; they are known as very good panfish. Spot have great economic importance to the community fisheries in the Chesapeake areas and the Carolinas (Husser 1999; Volusia County Government 2001; Chesapeake Bay Program 2000; EarthMax Development 2001; Raffield Fisheries 1998).
Although L. xanthurus are not an endangered species, in 1991 the Chespeake Bay Atlantic Croaker and Spot Fishery Management Plan (FMP) stated that the bycatch of Spot was a problem. This plan took effect from Delaware south through Florida because many of the fish were being caught accidentally in nets designed for other fish. So, the plan called for a minimum size to be caught. Substantial progress has been made in the reduction of the bycatch of Spot (Maryland Department of Natural Resources 2001).
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical
The largest Spot ever recorded was 14 inches in length, and the oldest was 5 years of age. Optimal supplies for fishing for Spot are light lines and small hooks. They prefer pieces of clam and cut fish or worms. Because fishermen usually do not go out with the intention of catching Spot, L. xanthurus are not viewed too favorably when on a hook or in a net (Maryland Department of Natural Resources 2001; Schultz 2001).
During the fall to early winter months, L. xanthurus moves offshore to spawn in the shallow to middle-shelf waters. This period of spawning extends from fall to early spring. In areas such as North Carolina, the period is October to February. In areas such as Florida, the period is from December to March. The spawning occurs in waters a little deeper and further offshore than most Sciaenids. Anywhere from one hundred thousand to 1.7 million eggs may then be carried shoreward by winds and currents. Fertlization is external and occurs at night in shallow waters. The larvae grow rapidly in the warmer offshore waters. The young Spot then move into coastal shallows and the lower bays during the winter. This is where they spend their first year. Usually, during the summer, the young reside in the tidal creeks and shallow estuarine areas. Then, during the winter, once again, they go into deeper estuarine waters or the ocean. Young Spot tend to move into areas with lower salinity and even freshwater until they are old enough to return back to the saltwater. Young Spot have also been known to reside in eelgrass communities. The age of maturity is about 2-3 years when the Spot are about 186-214 milimeters in length. The maximum age for a Spot is 5 years (Husser 1999; Chesapeake Bay Program 2000; EarthMax Development 2001; Schultz 2001; Maryland Department of Natural Resources 2001).
Leiostomus xanthurus és una espècie de peix de la família dels esciènids i de l'ordre dels perciformes.
Menja principalment cucs, crustacis petits i detritus orgànic.[4]
És depredat per Sarda sarda i, als Estats Units, per Pomatomus saltatrix,[7] Cynoscion regalis, Morone saxatilis, Carcharhinus obscurus, Odontaspis taurus, Squatina dumeril, Mustelus canis i Carcharhinus plumbeus.[8][9]
És un peix de clima subtropical (43°N-19°N) i demersal que viu fins als 60 m de fondària.[4][10]
Es troba a l'Oceà Atlàntic occidental: des de Massachusetts fins al nord de Mèxic, llevat del sud de Florida.[4][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]
És inofensiu per als humans.[4]
Leiostomus xanthurus és una espècie de peix de la família dels esciènids i de l'ordre dels perciformes.
Der Augenfleck-Umber (Leiostomus xanthurus), in den USA Spot oder spot croaker genannt, ist ein kleiner Umberfisch. Der Augenfleck (oberhalb der Brustflossenbasis, am Schultergürtel) dient wohl der Irritation potenzieller Fressfeinde. Die Färbung ist das bei Umberfischen verbreitete bläulich bis purpurn schimmernde helle Silber; ca. 18 gelbe schräge Binden verblassen mit zunehmender Größe mehr und mehr. Der wissenschaftliche Name Leiostomus xanthurus bedeutet „gelbschwänziger Glattmäuler“, womit auf seine Bartellosigkeit hingewiesen sein soll. Er besitzt 25 Wirbel. Der Spot kann 35 cm erreichen, aber die meisten, die man fängt, sind viel kleiner und wiegen weniger als 1/2 Pfund, denn als vortrefflichem, zarten Speisefisch wird ihm viel nachgestellt und er erreicht selten sein maximales Lebensalter. Dennoch dürfte er noch immer die individuenreichste Art der Sciaeniden an der US-Ostküste darstellen. Wie volkstümlich er ist, zeigt das „Spot-Fest“ von Hampstead, North Carolina, alljährlich Ende September.
Flossenformel: D1 XIII-XVI, D2 I/30-33, A II/12-15.
Er kommt an der Ostküste von Massachusetts bis Kuba und im gesamten Golf von Mexiko vor, stets in der Nähe der Küstem in geringer Tiefe, über Sand- und Schlammgrund, aus dem er Würmer, Krebse und kleine Muscheln gewinnt. Das Maul ist etwas unterständig. Seine Vorliebe zu Brackwasser-Ästuaren und Lagunen ist unverkennbar, besonders bei Jungfischen, die sich hier den Sommer über, zunächst planktonfressend, entwickeln (aus pelagischen Eiern, mit oftmaligem Laichen in Portionen). Er ist raschwüchsig und wird nur einige Jahre alt.
Sehr ähnlich ist der früher ebenfalls zur Gattung Leiostomus gezählte Weiße Umber (Genyonemus lineatus) von der nordamerikanischen Westküste.
Der Augenfleck-Umber (Leiostomus xanthurus), in den USA Spot oder spot croaker genannt, ist ein kleiner Umberfisch. Der Augenfleck (oberhalb der Brustflossenbasis, am Schultergürtel) dient wohl der Irritation potenzieller Fressfeinde. Die Färbung ist das bei Umberfischen verbreitete bläulich bis purpurn schimmernde helle Silber; ca. 18 gelbe schräge Binden verblassen mit zunehmender Größe mehr und mehr. Der wissenschaftliche Name Leiostomus xanthurus bedeutet „gelbschwänziger Glattmäuler“, womit auf seine Bartellosigkeit hingewiesen sein soll. Er besitzt 25 Wirbel. Der Spot kann 35 cm erreichen, aber die meisten, die man fängt, sind viel kleiner und wiegen weniger als 1/2 Pfund, denn als vortrefflichem, zarten Speisefisch wird ihm viel nachgestellt und er erreicht selten sein maximales Lebensalter. Dennoch dürfte er noch immer die individuenreichste Art der Sciaeniden an der US-Ostküste darstellen. Wie volkstümlich er ist, zeigt das „Spot-Fest“ von Hampstead, North Carolina, alljährlich Ende September.
Flossenformel: D1 XIII-XVI, D2 I/30-33, A II/12-15.
Er kommt an der Ostküste von Massachusetts bis Kuba und im gesamten Golf von Mexiko vor, stets in der Nähe der Küstem in geringer Tiefe, über Sand- und Schlammgrund, aus dem er Würmer, Krebse und kleine Muscheln gewinnt. Das Maul ist etwas unterständig. Seine Vorliebe zu Brackwasser-Ästuaren und Lagunen ist unverkennbar, besonders bei Jungfischen, die sich hier den Sommer über, zunächst planktonfressend, entwickeln (aus pelagischen Eiern, mit oftmaligem Laichen in Portionen). Er ist raschwüchsig und wird nur einige Jahre alt.
Sehr ähnlich ist der früher ebenfalls zur Gattung Leiostomus gezählte Weiße Umber (Genyonemus lineatus) von der nordamerikanischen Westküste.
The spot (Leiostomus xanthurus), also known commonly as the spot croaker,[1] Norfolk spot[2] and the Virginia spot, is a species of small short-lived saltwater fish in the family Sciaenidae. The species inhabits estuary and coastal waters from Massachusetts to Texas, and derives its name from the prominent dark spot behind each gill. It is the only species in the genus Leiostomus. Spot are frequently caught by recreational anglers and are good to eat.
The spot was first formally described in 1802 by the French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède with its type locality given as Carolina.[3] Lacépède named this new species in a new monospecific genus, Leiostomus.[4] This genus has been placed in the subfamily Sciaeninae by some workers,[5] but the 5th edition of Fishes of the World does not recognise subfamilies within the Sciaenidae which it places in the order Acanthuriformes.[6]
The spot's generic name, Leiostomus means "smooth mouth" and refers to the toothless lower jaw. The specific name xanthurus means "yellow tail" and is a misnomer as the tail is not yellow, but it may have been coinfused for Bairdiella chrysoura.[7]
The spot is relatively deep-bodied and compressed with a humped back.[8] The mouth is almost horizontal and is equipped with bands of small teeeth. There is no barbel on the chin but there are 5 pores there with more pores on the snout, 5 on the sides and 5 at the front. The upper angle of the operculum is incised and the edge of the preoperculum is smooth and not serrated. The dorsal fin is deeply incised, the incision separating the front, spiny part of the fin with 11 spines and the rear soft-rayed part which is supported by 29 to 35 soft rays. The anal fin contains 2 spines and 12 or 13 soft rays, the second spine being half the length of the first soft ray. The caudal fin is truncate, sometimes slightly notched. They have large ctenoid scales, except for those beneath the eye and on the lower head which are cycloid. A scale row, or two, runs along the base of the soft-rayed part of the dorsal fin.[9] This species reaches a maximum total length of 36 cm (14 in), although 25 cm (9.8 in) is more typical.[10] The color of the body is bluish-gray on the upper body becoming yellow or golden on the lower body. In young fishes there is a series of dark bars run diagonally from the back to the middle of the flanks, these fade as the fish ages. There is a large black spot on the body above the upper margin of the operculum.[8]
The spot is native to the west central and northwest regions on the Atlantic Ocean. It is found along the Gulf of Mexico, along the southern coast of the U.S from Massachusetts and down to Campeche, Mexico. It is typically found in depths no more than 6 meters, but can be found up to 50 meters in depth. The spot lives in salt waters, especially brackish waters, mostly over sandy and muddy seabeds. It lives in the estuaries and bays until spring, when it migrates to the deeper waters that it spawns in. During summer, it moves to water with a higher salinity, and then it moves offshore once autumn begins, and the water begins to cool.[1]
The spot is omnivorous, and eats benthic invertebrates, small crustaceans, and plant and animal detritus. This includes polychaetes, worms, small fish, small plankton, and mollusks.[1]
The spot is a very important fish for both recreational and commercial fishing. In 2021 the total landing of spot in the Southern Atlantic sector of US waters was 322 t (317 long tons; 355 short tons) with 71% of that coming from recreational fishermen and 29% from commercial fisheries. 64% of the commercial landings were in Virginia.[11]
The spot spawns in fall to early winter time. It moves from its typical bay and estuary habitat to an offshore area of deeper water, where up to 1.7 million eggs may be laid. The eggs are externally fertilized and pushed back toward shore. Larvae quickly grow in the warmer offshore water and move into coastal shallows and bays for winter.[11][1]
Spot are protected and monitored under the Chesapeake Bay Atlantic Croaker and Spot Fishery Management Plan of 1991. The 1987 fishery management plan of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission was aimed mainly at reducing the numbers of juvenile fish taken as bycatch by shrimpers.[12]
At least one aquaculture project in New Jersey is attempting to culture spot for potential commercial production.[13]
The North Carolina Spot Festival is held at Hampstead, North Carolina, on the last weekend of September.[14]
The spot (Leiostomus xanthurus), also known commonly as the spot croaker, Norfolk spot and the Virginia spot, is a species of small short-lived saltwater fish in the family Sciaenidae. The species inhabits estuary and coastal waters from Massachusetts to Texas, and derives its name from the prominent dark spot behind each gill. It is the only species in the genus Leiostomus. Spot are frequently caught by recreational anglers and are good to eat.
Leiostomus xanthurus es una especie de pez de la familia Sciaenidae en el orden de los Perciformes.
• Los machos pueden llegar alcanzar los 36 cm de longitud total y 450 g de peso.[1][2][3]
Come principalmente gusanos, crustáceos pequeños y detritus orgánico.
Es depredado por Sarda sarda y,en los Estados Unidos, por Pomatomus saltatrix ,Cynoscion regalis ,Morone saxatilis ,Carcharhinus obscurus ,Odontaspis taurus ,Squatina dumerili ,Mustelus canis y Carcharhinus plumbeus .
Es un pez de clima subtropical (43°N-19°N) y demersal que vive hasta los 60 m de profundidad.
Se encuentra en el Océano Atlántico occidental: desde Massachusetts hasta el norte de México, salvo el sur de Florida.
Es inofensivo para los humanos.
Leiostomus xanthurus es una especie de pez de la familia Sciaenidae en el orden de los Perciformes.
Leiostomus xanthurus Leiostomus generoko animalia da. Arrainen barruko Sciaenidae familian sailkatzen da.
Leiostomus xanthurus Leiostomus generoko animalia da. Arrainen barruko Sciaenidae familian sailkatzen da.
Le Tambour croca (Leiostomus xanthurus) est une espèce de poissons de la famille des Sciaenidae. Il est la seule espèce du genre Leiostomus.
Cette espèce est présente dans l'Atlantique, le long des côtes aux États-Unis, au Mexique et aux Bahamas[1].
Il se nourrit de vers, de crustacés et de déchets organiques[1].
Le Tambour croca (Leiostomus xanthurus) est une espèce de poissons de la famille des Sciaenidae. Il est la seule espèce du genre Leiostomus.
De puntombervis (Leiostomus xanthurus) is een straalvinnige vis uit de familie van ombervissen (Sciaenidae) en behoort derhalve tot de orde van baarsachtigen (Perciformes). De vis kan maximaal 36 cm lang en 450 gram zwaar worden. De hoogst geregistreerde leeftijd 4 jaar.
Leiostomus xanthurus komt in zeewater en brak water voor. De vis prefereert een subtropisch klimaat en leeft hoofdzakelijk in de Atlantische Oceaan. De diepteverspreiding is 0 tot 60 m onder het wateroppervlak.
Leiostomus xanthurus is voor de visserij van aanzienlijk commercieel belang. In de hengelsport wordt er weinig op de vis gejaagd.
De puntombervis (Leiostomus xanthurus) is een straalvinnige vis uit de familie van ombervissen (Sciaenidae) en behoort derhalve tot de orde van baarsachtigen (Perciformes). De vis kan maximaal 36 cm lang en 450 gram zwaar worden. De hoogst geregistreerde leeftijd 4 jaar.
Slätkväkare[2] (Leiostomus xanthurus) är en salt- och brackvattensfisk i familjen havsgösfiskar som finns utanför Nordamerikas östkust. Namnet "kväkare" kommer sig av att hanen kan frambringa ett trummande – kväkande ljud med hjälp av simblåsan.
En fisk med förhållandevis kort kropp och hög rygg som är sammantryckt från sidorna samt ett kort huvud med liten mun. Den har en enda ryggfena, som emellertid är delad i en främre del med 9 till 11 hårda taggstrålar, och en bakre del med 29 till 35 mjukstrålar av ett kraftigt hack. Analfenan har 2 taggstrålar och 12 till 13 mjukstrålar. Stjärtfenans bakkant är vinklad inåt.[3]) Kroppen är upptill blågrå till silverfärgad med en gulaktig anstrykning, och med 12 till 15 mörka tvärstrimmor, som kan bli otydliga hos äldre individer, längs sidorna ner till ungefär mittlinjen. Bakom gällockets övre kant sitter en stor, mörk, rund fläck. Fenorna är ljusgula med undantag för rygg- och bukfenorna som är mjölkvita.[4] Buken är guldgul till gulbeige.[3] Som mest kan den bli 36 cm lång (även om få blir mycket längre än 25 cm) och väga 450 g.[5]
Slätkväkaren lever i stora stim, ofta på över 100 individer, som långsamt rör sig efter sand- och dybottnar i kustvatten och flodmynningar ner till 60 meters djup, även om de vanligen håller sig på grundare vatten. Födan består av bottenlevande ryggradslösa djur som räkor, små krabbor, havsborstmaskar, små mollusker och småplankton, samt fiskar och detritus, både av växter och djur.[4]
Hanen kan ge ljud ifrån sig, ett trummande ljud som produceras av simblåsan. Som mest kan arten bli 5 år gammal.[4]
De flesta individer blir könsmogna före 2 års ålder, men vissa dröjer ytterligare ett år.[3] Under hösten till tidiga våren drar de sig längre ut för att leka. Leken sker nattetid och under denna kan honan producera mellan 100 000 och 1,7 miljoner ägg.[4] De pelagiska äggen kläcks snabbt, vid 20 ºC inom ett dygn. Larverna har konsumerat innehållet i gulesäcken efter omkring 5 dagar. De tros föras passivt till kustnära bukter och flodmynningar av strömmar och vind.[3] De håller sig gärna i bräckt och till och med sött vatten den första tiden.[4]
Slätkväkaren finns längs Nordamerikas östkust från Massachusetts i USA till norra Mexiko med undantag av södra Florida.[5]
Trots storleken anses arten vara en god matfisk, speciellt lämpad att steka. Den fiskas även för att användas som djurfoder, och är också en populär sportfisk.[4]
Slätkväkare (Leiostomus xanthurus) är en salt- och brackvattensfisk i familjen havsgösfiskar som finns utanför Nordamerikas östkust. Namnet "kväkare" kommer sig av att hanen kan frambringa ett trummande – kväkande ljud med hjälp av simblåsan.
黃尾平口石首魚（學名Leiostomus xanthurus）是一種細小的海魚。它們棲息在美國麻薩諸塞州至德克薩斯州的河口及海岸，鰓後就明顯的黑點。它們是平口石首魚屬下的唯一物種，經常成為休閒垂釣的對象及是一種美味。
黃尾平口石首魚主要吃有機碎屑、細小甲殼類及蠕蟲。吻沙蠶屬十分適合作為垂釣它們的魚餌。
黃尾平口石首魚分佈在緬因州至佛羅里達州的大西洋河口及海岸，在切薩皮克灣南至南卡羅來納州最為豐富。它們會進行季軍遷徙，於春天進入海灣及河口，一直逗留到夏末或冬天才離開產卵。它們2-3歲就會成熟，長約7-8吋。它們最老可達6歲，平均壽命為4歲。它們會於冬天至初春在海洋產卵，魚苗會進入河口，利用低鹽度的潮溪成長為幼體。它們逐漸會進入較高鹽度的地區，並於水溫下降的冬天重回海洋。那些在北部的群落於秋天也會向南移。
黃尾平口石首魚在海底覓食，主要吃蠕蟲、細小甲殼類及軟體動物，也會吃有機物質。它們的天敵包括銀花鱸魚、犬牙石首魚、大西洋牙鮃、扁鰺及鯊魚。[1]
黃尾平口石首魚的壽命很短，每年的漁獵對它們有很大影響。但是有關其群落的資料不詳，難以確定是否過度漁獵。因此，有關其管理仍然較為疏鬆。
黃尾平口石首魚（學名Leiostomus xanthurus）是一種細小的海魚。它們棲息在美國麻薩諸塞州至德克薩斯州的河口及海岸，鰓後就明顯的黑點。它們是平口石首魚屬下的唯一物種，經常成為休閒垂釣的對象及是一種美味。
점민어(영문명 : Spot 혹은 Norfolk spot, 학명 : Leiostomus xanthurus)[2]는 작고 수명이 짧은 민어과(Sciaenidae) 염수어(saltwater fish)이다. 강 하구에서 서식하며, 미국에서는 매사추세츠주(Massachusetts)에서 텍사스주(Texas) 연안에 분포해 있다. 'Spot'이란 영문명은 양 아가미 옆에 뚜렷한 검은 점이 있는 것에서 유래한다. 점민어속(Leiostomus)에 속하는 유일한 어류라는 점에서, Leiostomus는 단형(單型, monotypic taxon)이라 할 수 있다. 식용 가능하다.
유기분해물(detritus), 갑각류, 벌레 등을 먹고 산다. 지렁이를 미끼로 사용하여 낚는다.
줄농어(striped bass), 도다리(flounder), 흉상어(sandbar shark), 돔발상어(dogfish shark), 민어(weakfish), 홍민어(점성어)(red drum), 흑민어(black drum), 점박이바다송어(spotted seatrout), 대서양고등어(Atlantic mackerel), 대왕고등어(king mackerel), 스페인고등어(spanish mackerel), 꼬치고기(barracuda), 날새기(cobia), 흑농어(black sea bass), 타폰(tarpon) 등이 점민어를 먹고 사는 대표적 어종이다.
미국 어부들은 미국 넙치류(summer flounder), 점박이바다송어, 점민어 등을 잡는 미끼로 점민어를 쓰기도 한다. 한편, 미국 노스캐롤라이나주(North Carolina) 햄프스테드(Hampstead)에서는 매 9월 마지막 주말에 북캐롤라나 점민어 축제(The North Carolina Spot Festival)가 열리기도 한다.[3]
한국에서 흔히 점성어라 불리는 홍민어(red drum)는 학명이 Sciaenops ocellatus으로, 점민어와는 다른 어종이다. 그러나 점성어(홍민어)와 점민어는 모두 민어과(Sciaenidae)에 속하며, 몸에 점이 있는 특성을 갖고 있어(점성어 : 꼬리지느러미 부근, 점민어 : 아가미 부근) 두 어류의 명칭에도 영향을 주었다. 문제는 실상에서 점성어와 홍민어라는 이름이 뒤섞여서 '점민어'로 바뀌어 불리게 되었고, 이것이 관습적으로 '점성어=점민어'로 잘못 통용된 것으로 보인다. 현재 국내 학계에서 '점민어'라고 학명을 붙인 것은 미국 연안에서 흔히 서식하는 'Spot'(Leiostomus xanthurus)이다.
점민어는 대서양 중서 및 서북 지역에서 산다. 미국 남부 연안 메사추세츠주에서 멕시코 캄페체(Campeche)에 이르는 멕시코만(Gulf of Mexico) 연안에서 발견된다. 수심 6미터 이내에서 서식하지만 수심50미터에서도 발견된다. 플로리다주(Florida) 남부, 플로리다 키즈(Florida Keys), 혹은 코드 곶(Cape Cod) 부근에서 보인다.
염수에서만 살며, 특히 모래나 진흙펄 위의 해수에 서식한다. 봄에는 강 하구나 만에서 살다가 깊은 물로 이주하여 산란한다. 여름에는 염도가 높은 해수로 이동하고 초가을에는 연안으로 옮겨 살다가 겨울을 난다.
잡식성이며, 저생성무척추동물(benthic invertebrate), 작은 갑각류, 동식물의 유기분해물을 먹고 산다. 다모류(polychaete), 벌레(worm), 작은 물고기, 플랑크톤, 연체동물 등을 먹는다.
미국에서는 여가나 상업용 낚시로 자주 잡힌다.
가을에서 초겨울에 산란한다. 강 하구나 만에서 연안 심해로 이동하여 최대 170만개의 알을 낳는다. 알은 체외수정되어서 해안으로 밀려간다. 새끼 단계에서는 따뜻한 연안해수에서 자라며 겨울에는 해안과 만의 얕은 곳에서 서식한다.
미국의 경우, 1991년 체사피크만 대서양점민어 어업관리 계획(Chesapeake Bay Atlantic Croaker and Spot Fishery Management Plan of 1991)에 따라 보호관리되고 있다. 대서양연해주 해양어업위원회(Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission)의 1987년 어업관리 계획은 새우잡이배에 혼획된 새끼 점민어를 줄이는 것을 목표로 하였다.[4]
뉴저지주(New Jersey)에서는 수산양식 프로젝트를 통해 점민어의 상업 생산 양식을 시도하고 있다.[5]
점민어(영문명 : Spot 혹은 Norfolk spot, 학명 : Leiostomus xanthurus)는 작고 수명이 짧은 민어과(Sciaenidae) 염수어(saltwater fish)이다. 강 하구에서 서식하며, 미국에서는 매사추세츠주(Massachusetts)에서 텍사스주(Texas) 연안에 분포해 있다. 'Spot'이란 영문명은 양 아가미 옆에 뚜렷한 검은 점이 있는 것에서 유래한다. 점민어속(Leiostomus)에 속하는 유일한 어류라는 점에서, Leiostomus는 단형(單型, monotypic taxon)이라 할 수 있다. 식용 가능하다.
유기분해물(detritus), 갑각류, 벌레 등을 먹고 산다. 지렁이를 미끼로 사용하여 낚는다.
줄농어(striped bass), 도다리(flounder), 흉상어(sandbar shark), 돔발상어(dogfish shark), 민어(weakfish), 홍민어(점성어)(red drum), 흑민어(black drum), 점박이바다송어(spotted seatrout), 대서양고등어(Atlantic mackerel), 대왕고등어(king mackerel), 스페인고등어(spanish mackerel), 꼬치고기(barracuda), 날새기(cobia), 흑농어(black sea bass), 타폰(tarpon) 등이 점민어를 먹고 사는 대표적 어종이다.
미국 어부들은 미국 넙치류(summer flounder), 점박이바다송어, 점민어 등을 잡는 미끼로 점민어를 쓰기도 한다. 한편, 미국 노스캐롤라이나주(North Carolina) 햄프스테드(Hampstead)에서는 매 9월 마지막 주말에 북캐롤라나 점민어 축제(The North Carolina Spot Festival)가 열리기도 한다.
