Cynoscion is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family, Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers.

These fishes are found off the coasts of North and South America in the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans.

[4] Cynoscion is a combination of cyno, meaning "dog", a reference to the pair of canine-like teeth in the upper jaw, with scion, the modern Greek name of Umbrina cirrosa, which Gill preferred over sciaena because he did not like the sound of Cynosciaena.

The head is low, with the crown being firm to the touch rather than spongy with moderately sized eyes and a large oblique mouth.

The dorsal fin is long based and is deeply incised with between seven and nine thin spines and between 20 and 30 soft rays.