Family: GERREIDAE, Mojarra, Mojarras

FAMILY GERREIDAE

MOJARRAS

Gerreids are small to medium (to ~ 50 cm) silvery fishes with moderately deep to somewhat slender, compressed bodies; the lower profile of the head is distinctively concave; the mouth is highly extensible, pointing downward when protruded; jaws appear toothless but have tiny, brush-like teeth; no teeth on roof of the mouth; one dorsal fin, IX spines, elevated at front; pectoral fin long and pointed; pelvic fins below or a little behind pectoral fin base; tail fin deeply forked; scales large, conspicuous and finely rough, cover most of head (except snout and before eye) and all of body; dorsal and anal fins fold into a high scaly sheath along their bases.

Gerreids are distributed circumglobally in tropical to temperate areas. There are about 49 species in 7 genera, with 12 species from four genera in our region.

PREPARED BY D ROSS ROBERTSON, AFTER GILMORE (2002)