The Atlantic croaker is in the family of drums and croakers, so named because they can vibrate their gas bladders to create species-specific sounds. This is especially evident during the spawning season when many individuals call in choruses at the same time. These sounds have been frequently recorded by Tom Grothues, another Rutgers University fish ecologist, with an underwater recorder at Beach Haven Ridge off Little Egg Inlet in the fall of the year.
Adult croakers are easily recognized by their shape and coloration.
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