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Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

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Fun Facts

Sheepshead have very strong teeth for eating shelled animals. They have incisors, molars and rounded grinding teeth. Some people think their front teeth (incisors) look like sheep teeth or human teeth!

Species Type:

Fishes

Common Name(s):

Sheepshead

Size:

On average, sheepshead are 1-8 pounds (.5-3.6 kg) and 14-18 inches (35 cm) long.

Diet:

These fish eat blue crab, clams, oysters, barnacles and plankton.

Range & Habitat:

They live near mangroves, tidal creeks, oyster bars, rocky areas and seagrass beds in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and western Atlantic Ocean.

Details:

Sheepshead are small, flat, oval shaped fish. They have alternating black and silver stripes running vertically along their body. 

Photo by Susie Carlo / Mote Marine Laboratory