Flagfin mojarra (Eucinostomus melanopterus)

Scientific name: Eucinostomus melanopterus Bleeker, 1863

Flagfin mojarra (Eucinostomus melanopterus)

The Flagfin mojarra (Eucinostomus melanopterus) is a freshwater fish of the family Gerreidae. Native range: Eastern Atlantic, Mauritania to Angola. Western Atlantic: Bermuda and Florida, USA to Brazil; not found in the Bahamas.

Biology

A coastal species entering estuaries, coastal rivers, and lagoons. Found over sand or mud bottoms. Feeds on fish, shrimps, mollusks, zooplankton and detritus; 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. Marketed fresh but not highly esteemed.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Eucinostomus melanopterus
Family
Gerreidae (Mojarras)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
30.0
Common length
23.0
Depth range
0–25 m (0–82 ft)
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; amphidromous; depth range 0 - 25 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: Mauritania to Angola. Western Atlantic: Bermuda and Florida, USA to Brazil; not found in the Bahamas.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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