Yellow fin mojarra
(Gerres cinereus)
Image source: Kevin Bryant | Flick.com
Classification
Species:
Gerres cinereus
Genus:
Gerres
Family: Gerreidae - Mojarras
Order: Perciformes - Perches
Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes
General data
Scientific names:
Yellow fin mojarra
Habitat:
Amfidromous
Climates:
Tropical, Subtropical
Western Atlantic: Bermuda and Florida, USA; Bahamas, northern Gulf of Mexico, around Caribbean, including Antilles and south American coast to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Max length: 41 cm TL, max weight: 530 g
Inhabits shallow coastal waters in open sandy and surf areas, seagrass beds, near reefs, and mangrove channels. Enters brackish water, sometimes even fresh water. May occur in small aggregations. Feeds on benthic invertebrates such as worms, clams, crustaceans; also feeds on insects. Often seen feeding in sand patches among reefs by thrusting its mouth into the sediment and expelling sand from the gill openings.