Black Drum

Coastal Habitats

Animals of the Nearshore Waters 

Black Drum

Pogonias cromis

Black drum can survive in most conditions from fresh water to water twice as salty as the Gulf, from freezing weather to the extremely warm shallows of Laguna Madre in the summer. Barbels, or whiskers, on their chin help black drum find worms, shrimp, crabs and other shellfish. The fish crush their food with plates of teeth in their throats.

Animals of the Nearshore Waters

Learn more by clicking on the links below.

Brown Tube Sponge

Red Boring Sponge

Red-Orange Encrusting Sponge

Tree Oyster

Ivory Bush Coral

Cup Coral

Pearly Red Encrusting Bryozoan

Black Drum

Crevalle Jack

Florida Pompano

Sand Seatrout

Tarpon

Gulf Kingfish

Southern Kingfish

Spot

Pigfish

Select a coastal habitat:

• Salt Marshes
• Bays and Estuaries
• Jetties
• Nearshore Waters
• Gulf Waters