Genus: Gerres, Mojarras, Yellowfin Mojarra

GERRES

MOJARRAS

Body deep; 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; teeth inside throat all pointed; one dorsal fin, IX spines, elevated at front, 2nd spine < distance between tip of snout and rear of eye; anal fin II, 7, 2nd spine > depth of tail base; pectoral fin long (usually passes anal fin origin) pointed; tail fin deeply forked; scales large, conspicuous and finely rough, covering most of head and body; scales on forehead do not extend in front of eye; dorsal and anal fins fold into a high scaly sheath along their bases; body with 6-10 narrow dark bars.

A pantropical genus with about 28 species; one West Atlantic species in the Greater Caribbean.