Species: Eugerres awlae, Maracaibo Mojarra

Eugerres awlae Schultz, 1949

Maracaibo Mojarra

Body deep, rhomboidal; upper head profile ascends abruptly behind notch above rear of eye; 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 serrated; bone under front of eye with serrated border; teeth inside throat all pointed; 16 (14-17) lower gill rakers; one dorsal fin, elevated at front, IX, 2nd spine > distance between tip of snout and rear of eye, reaches to base of rays 5-6, rear edge of spiny dorsal concave; anal fin III, 8 (8-9), 2nd spine thick, long, very strong, reaches past tail fin base; pectoral fin long and pointed; 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; 37 (35-41) pored lateral line scales; longitudinal groove on center of snout scaleless.

Body silver, with greenish blue tinges on back; conspicuous dark lines along centers of scale rows.

Size: to 34 cm.

Habitat: in shallow coastal areas and lagoons, mangroves, often in freshwater.

Depth: 0-30 m?

The Gulf of Mexico to the southern Caribbean.