Flagfin mojarra
(Eucinostomus melanopterus)
Image source: Adrian Torres B. | inaturalist.org
General data
Eastern Atlantic: west African coast, from Senegal to Angola. Also reported from Mauritania.
Western Atlantic: Bermuda and Florida, USA to Brazil.
Max length: 30 cm TL
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7 - 8.
Body fusiform and compressed; snout pointed; mouth strongly protrusible; nostrils contiguous, positioned nearer to eye than to snout tip; dorsal fin deeply notched; tips of pectoral fins not reaching to anal-fin origin; scales cycloid on head and finely ctenoid on body; scales of interocular space reaching anterior border of eyes; tip of spinous dorsal fin with a black spot, underlined by a whitish band.
Coloration: back olivaceous, sides silvery; a characteristic black spot at tip of spiny part of dorsal fin; young individuals may show dark vertical bars on back and sides.
A coastal species entering estuaries, lower courses of coastal rivers, and lagoons. Found over sand or mud bottom.
Feeds on fish, shrimps, mollusks, zooplankton and detritus.
