Scientific Name
Gerres cinereus

Common Name
Yellow fin mojarra

Biology
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. Easily approached. Marketed fresh but not highly esteemed; also processed into fishmeal.

Classification

Classified By

Walbaum, 1792

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Mojarras (Gerreidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Bermuda and Florida, USA; Bahamas, northern Gulf of Mexico, around Caribbean, including Antilles and south American coast to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; including northern Gulf of Mexico and the entire Caribbean Sea. Eastern Pacific: Mexico to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands.

Range

32°N - 23°S

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

15 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; reef-associated; amphidromous ; depth range 1 - 15 m

Trophic Level

3.32 s.e. 0.47 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

41.0 cm

Common Length

30.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; bait: occasionally

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (24 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.60; tm=1.5)

Threat To Humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 30911)

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)