Species: Eucinostomus argenteus, Spotfin Mojarra

Eucinostomus argenteus Baird & Girard in Baird, 1855

Spotfin Mojarra

Body oval, fusiform, compressed, depth 32.7-36.5% of SL; 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; lower border of preopercle smooth; bone under front of eye with smooth border; 8 (7-8) lower gill rakers; dorsal fin IX, 10, 2nd spine </= to distance between tip of snout and rear of eye, last spine short (5.8-7.1% of SL); pectoral not reaching to anal fin origin; anal rays III, 8, spines weak, 2nd spine short, < height of tail base, its base 16.7-19.2% SL; 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; pectorals without scales; scales extend before front of eye on top of snout around scaleless groove that is constricted on each side at front by scales, but not crossed by a row scales at front.

Silver, with 6-9 faint dark spots along mid-side that join with 7 bars on upper back; outer part of spiny dorsal lightly dusky.

Grows to 20 cm.

Inhabits sand or mud bottoms of shallow coastal waters, occasionally entering estuaries and freshwater.

Depth: 0-76 m.

New Jersey to SE Brazil.