Genus: Eucinostomus, Mojarras, Shortspine Mojarra

EUCINOSTOMUS

MOJARRAS

Body oval, oblong to moderately deep, depth 30-42% of SL; 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; lower border of preopercle smooth; bone under front of eye with smooth border; teeth inside throat all pointed; one dorsal fin, IX spines, elevated at front, 2nd spine </= distance between tip of snout and rear edge of eye; anal fin II-III, 8, 2nd spine short, < height of tail base; pectoral fin not reaching to anal fin origin, 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; scales extend before front of eye on top of snout around scaleless groove; body without black bars or stripes.

A tropical to warm temperate genus of 9 species found in the east and west Atlantic as well as the eastern Pacific; represented in our area by 6 West Atlantic and 1 endemic species.