By Taylor Guest
Fish are given two types of names: a scientific name, which is derived from the Latin or Greek language, and an official common name given by scientific entities in order to standardize public usage, although, most of the time, the scientifically accepted common name is the least familiar among anglers. The scientifically accepted common name of the fish in this article is the red drum, although South Carolinians and Georgians refer to it as spot-tail bass, while North Carolinians refer to it as channel bass, and any state associated with the Gulf of Mexico region refers to it as redfish. The scientific name of red drum is Sciaenops ocellatus. The word Sciaenops is derived from the Greek words skiaina + ops, which translate to red mullet appearance, while ocellatus can be traced back to the Latin word for spotted, or in the case of the distinctive spot located on the tail of red drum, eyelike spot.
So why the spot?
Biologists believe red drum develop black spots, usually one on each side of the tail, as an antipredator mechanism. The reason behind this antipredator mechanism is either intimidate the predator, or to fool a potential predator into striking the tail, thinking the black spot is an eye, as opposed to the head, for it is much easier to escape and heal from a tail wound that from a head wound.
Predatory fishes typically attack prey near the head, thus increasing the chances of administering a fatal blow, not to mention, the orientation of the fins make it particularly difficult for a fish to be swallowed starting from the tail, so the head is the ideal place to launch an attack. In the case of red drum, the pseudo-eye of the tail spot decreases the chances that a predator can administer a fatal blow to the head, by confusing the predator into thinking the tail is actually the head. Although the typical red drum has but only one spot on either side of the tail, rare individuals have multiple or even countless spots along the entire body of the fish. Imagine what a predator would think of that!
Although most spots are distinct and independent of one another, variations in spot shape, size, and connectivity can lead to unique shapes, signs, or even letters! Although multi-spot red drum are a rarity, still more rare are the red drum born with no spots.
Some biologist theorize that red drum spots and numbers range based on certain environmental factors such as salinity or geographical location. Some, however, believe it is as simple as random genetic selection, with no real dependence on environmental factors such as the aforementioned.
Sexually mature adults that have reached a size refuge from predation, thus no longer needing the antipredator function that the spot offers, will often lose the pigmentation that causes the spotting; however, spot have been seen to persist in large âbullâ red drum. This begs the question, is the spot maintained due to random genetic selection, or is there still an antipredator need for this adult spotting. What predator is out there with certain adult red drum populations that causes the genetic selection of the retention of the spot? Large sharks?
Side note: A common myth about red drum spots is that red drum can change the number and shape of their spots on command, something like a cuttlefish. This is not true, for the number and shape of spots that a red drum has are fixed.
Whatâs the most spots youâve ever seen on a red drum?