Eucinostomus argenteus
Eucinostomus argenteus, the spotfin mojarra or silver mojarra,[2] is a species of fish belonging to the family Gerreidae. The name spotfin mojarra is descriptive of the black spot that appears on the anterior part of the dorsal fin.
| Eucinostomus argenteus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Gerreidae |
| Genus: | Eucinostomus |
| Species: | E. argenteus |
| Binomial name | |
| Eucinostomus argenteus | |
Description
Mojarras are silvery in color and fairly diamond-shaped. They have smooth scales, anal spines, and forked tails. Mojarras have a single dorsal fin, with spines of decreasing length along the fin. The dorsal and anal fins have scaly sheaths at their bases. A unique feature of the family Gerreidae to which it belongs is the mouth, as the upper jaw extends downward when the mouth is opened and forms a tube. When the mouth is closed, the lower jaw is concave, providing another distinctive feature. The spotfin mojarra has a black spot on the anterior part of the dorsal fin. This species also has a groove on the top of its snout that lack scales, and generally has a more slender body than other species of mojarras. On the upper part of the body, faint, irregular bars are visible.[3]
Distribution and habitat
Mojarras are tropical species, but a small number of juvenile fish have been found in the Lower Hudson at Bowline Pond and Indian Point.[3]
Taxonomy
Eucinostomus argenteus was first formally described in 1855 by Spencer Fullerton Baird and Charles Frédéric Girard with the type locality given as Beesley's Point, New Jersey.[4] It is the type species of the genus Eucinostomus as the genus was monotypic when Baird and Girard named it.[5]
References
- Fraser, T.; Gilmore, G. (2015). "Eucinostomus argenteus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T185994A1800543. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T185994A1800543.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Eucinostomus argenteus" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
- L.C. Smith (1985). The Inland Fishes of New York State. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
- Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Eucinostomus argenteus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Eucinostomus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
Wheeler, A. Fishes of the World. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc. 1975, pp. 196