This is Equetus punctatus, or the spotted drum! Like all drumfish, the spotted drum produces a sound that has been described to be similar to a drumbeat. This sound is made by the beating of their "sonic muscles" located within their abdomen against their swim bladder. This "drumming" sound is known to be associated with courtship and spawning.
Another notable trait of the spotted drum is its tendency to swim in small, repetitive circles. (I can't blame it - have you seen that dorsal fin?)
The spotted drum is a solitary fish that prefers to predate at night, when it is able to peacefully hunt for worms and smaller crustaceans - its natural prey.
Also, look at how goofy their juveniles look. That is ridiculous - he doesn't need a fin that big!
I’ve been seeing lots of black drum photos lately. Black drum are really cool fish that don’t ever seem to get very much attention. In fact,
Background Drumming muscles of some sound-producing fish are ‘champions’ of contraction speed, their rate setting the fundamental frequency.
Trio of juvenile spotted drums. The spotted drum or spotted ribbonfish (Equetus punctatus) is a species of marine fish in the family Sciaenidae. It is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the occidental Atlantic Ocean from South Florida to Brazil including by the way the Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. It is frequently observed during the day under ledges or near the opening of small caves, at depths between 3 and 30 meters (98 ft), where it swims in repetitive patterns.
