Flagfin mojarra (Eucinostomus melanopterus) fish species and information / pictures of Flagfin mojarra - Eucinostomus melanopterus

Flagfin mojarra (Eucinostomus melanopterus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Eucinostomus melanopterus

Common Name
Flagfin mojarra

Biology
A coastal species entering estuaries, coastal rivers, and lagoons (Ref. 7352, 4323). Found over sand or mud bottoms (Ref. 3722). Feeds on fish, shrimps, mollusks, zooplankton and detritus (Ref. 28587); including other benthic crustaceans and polychaetes. Forages at daytime in small groups, hovering close to the bottom and either picks off prey on the substrate or digs into it sifting the mouthed sediment through its opercular openings. Its conspicuous black tip on dorsal fin is mimicked by juvenile guianan snooks, Centropomus mexicanus, an example of aggressive mimicry (Ref. 43465). Marketed fresh but not highly esteemed (Ref. 3722).

Classification

Classified By
Bleeker, 1863
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Perch-like fish (Perciformes)
Family
Mojarras (Gerreidae)

Distribution

Region
Eastern Atlantic
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: Mauritania to Angola. Western Atlantic: Bermuda and Florida, USA to Brazil; not found in the Bahamas (Ref. 7251).
Range
32°N - 33°S

Environment

Climate
Subtropical
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
0 m
Depth To - meters
25 m
Zone
demersal
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; amphidromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 25 m (Ref. 2683)
Trophic Level
3.39 s.e. 0.52 Based on food items.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
True
Occurs in Fresh Water
True
Occurs on Reefs
False
Is kept in Aquariums
False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
30.0 cm
Common Length
23.0 cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.5005 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Vulnerability
Low vulnerability (24 of 100)
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Not Evaluated