Species: Diapterus auratus, Irish Pompano, Irish Mojarra

Diapterus auratus Ranzani, 1842

Irish Pompano, Irish Mojarra

Body rhomboidal, compressed; the lower profile of the head distinctively concave; the mouth is highly extensible, pointing downward when protruded; jaws appear toothless but have tiny, brush-like teeth; teeth inside throat all pointed; margin of preopercle serrated; preorbital bone under eye smooth; 12-15 lower gill rakers; dorsal rays IX, 10, spiny part high, 2nd spine longer than distance between tip of snout and rear of eye; anal fin III,8, second spine long and stout, but shorter than fin base; pectoral fins relatively long, reaching slightly beyond anal fin origin; tail fin deeply forked; scales large, conspicuous and finely rough, covering most of head and body; dorsal and anal fins fold into a high scaly sheath along their bases.

Overall silvery to olive, spiny dorsal with a narrow black edge; young with 3 thin vertical dark bars.

Size: to 34 cm.

Inhabits protected sandy bays and lagoons and estuaries, especially on seagrass meadows and mangrove creeks.

Depth: 0-10 m?

Florida to Brazil.