Fun Spot-fin Mojarra Facts For Kids
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The spotfin mojarra, Eucinostomus argenteus, is a fish that belongs to the Gerreidae family that is also called the mojarra plateada in Mexico. It is one of 11 species that belong to the Eucinostomus genus that can be seen inhabiting the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans, including Mexican waters.
The spotfin mojarra is also commonly called the silver mojarra. This fish is indigenous to America's Pacific and Atlantic coasts.
It can be seen dwelling on the soft bottoms of shallow coastal areas as well as in bays. It can also be seen around mangroves along with young spotfin mojarras. It can be seen in the Atlantic Ocean's Mexican waters, stretching to both the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico.
It feeds upon polychaete worms, crustaceans, and bivalves. This fish is also often used by fishermen as live bait, making their search for tarpon, snook, and snappers much easier.
This fish species possesses the most slender body of all species of mojarras. Its body is somewhat diamond-shaped and primarily silver-colored.
The top of its snout possesses a groove, and the spotfin mojarra also has three anal fins along with a black-spotted dorsal fin that possesses spines. Mojarra fish are known to possess only one dorsal fin that has spines that decrease in length while stretching along the fin.
The spotfin-mojarra has scaly sheaths present at the base of its dorsal fin and anal fin. Its characteristic feature is the downward-pointing jaw that allows it to forage off the floor.
There are also irregular faint bars present on the dorsal side of its body. Keep reading to discover fun facts about the spotfin mojarra habitat, diet, appearance, and more!
If you enjoyed reading our spotfin mojarra fun facts, you must check out our donkey fish surprising facts and jackknife fish interesting facts too!
Spot-fin Mojarra Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a spot-fin mojarra?
The spotfin mojarra (Eucinostomus argenteus) is a small-sized fish that can be spotted near shores. It lives in the Atlantic Ocean like many other species of mojarra.
It is an oblong-shaped fish that has a compressed body. The coloration of the body of this silver mojarra is silver and it is about 5.9 in (15 cm) long. The spotfin mojarra is classified under the Least Concern category in the IUCN's Red List.
What class of animal does the spot-fin mojarra belong to?
The spotfin mojarra fish belongs to the Actinopterygii class and the genus Eucinostomus.
How many spot-fin mojarras are there in the world?
There is no data regarding the total population size of the fish species, Eucinostomus argenteus. However, we do know that the population trend of the species, Eucinostomus argenteus, is stable.
Where do spot-fin mojarras live?
The silver mojarra, Eucinostomus argenteus, is indigenous to America's Pacific and Atlantic coasts. The silver mojarra can be seen across all of the Atlantic Ocean's Mexican waters, stretching to the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico.
What is a spot-fin mojarra's habitat?
The spotfin mojarra dwells on muddy and soft bottoms in shallow inshore areas and bays. It can be seen up to the depth of 196.8 ft (60 m). It is also seen near mangroves, in brackish environments, and in freshwater regions along with its young.
Who does the spot-fin mojarra live with?
The spotfin mojarra is a fish that is spotted in schools. Large schools of the spotfin mojarra can be seen in areas with muddy or sandy bottoms.
These schools are seen in coastal waters adjacent to reefs which are used for protection against predators. The spotfin mojarra is a schooling species that isn't researched adequately, thus, there is limited data available about its behavior.
How long does a spot-fin mojarra live?
There is no data available about the lifespan of the species, Eucinostomus argenteus. However, we do know that its relative, the Pacific flagfin mojarra, can live for up to four years!
How do they reproduce?
The spotfin mojarra has been observed to spawn in the year's warm months. This fish species is also known to be oviparous.
They are known to breed in mangroves as shallow-water habitats help them to avoid predation from large marine animals. There are also abundant resources available for their young here. There is not much data about the reproduction of this species due to a lack of research.
What is their conservation status?
The spotfin mojarra, Eucinostomus argenteus, is classified under the Least Concern category in the IUCN's Red List as its populations are widely distributed and its population trend is stable. They do not face any significant threats, however, they are used as live bait to catch tarpons, snooks, and snappers. These fish are also commonly preyed upon by sharks.
Spot-fin Mojarra Fun Facts
What does the spot-fin mojarra look like?
The spotfin mojarra possesses an oval-shaped slender body. It can reach a maximum length of 5.9 in (15 cm) and can weigh up to 4.2 oz (119.6 g).
It has a stunning silver coloration with ultra-fine smears. There are seven bars present on its upper body and this is separated by six lateral marks that are dark-colored and are present on its sides.
The dorsal fin has a dusky-colored tip and also possesses 10 rays and nine spines. These spines decrease in length while running along the fin.
The caudal fin of this species is forked deeply. The spotfin mojarra also has three anal fins. The head features a concave-shaped lower profile, a characteristic pointed snout, and a mouth that can point in the downward direction!
Its characteristic feature is this downward-pointing jaw that lets it forage off the floor. The snout is V-shaped and is another distinguishing feature of this fish.
The top of its snout possesses a groove and the lower arch of the spotfin mojarra has seven or eight-gill rakers. The slender body of the spotfin mojarra is covered with tough, large-sized scales, unlike the smooth scales of other species of mojarras.
How cute are they?
The spotfin mojarra, Eucinostomus argenteus, is not very cute. Its protruding snout is not that adorable. However, its silvery coloration is quite striking! As the spotfin mojarra possesses a protruding mouth, silver coloration on its body, tiny teeth, and scaly sheaths at the base of its anal and dorsal fin, it cannot be confused with any other fish family!
How do they communicate?
It isn't known how these fish communicate. Most fish are known to communicate with each other via motion, bioluminescence, smell, color, and electrical impulses.
How big is the spot-fin mojarra?
The spotfin mojarra can reach a maximum length of 5.9 in (15 cm). They are approximately four times longer than the neon tetra! The neon tetra attains a maximum length of 1.5 in (4 cm).
How fast can a spot-fin mojarra swim?
There is no data available about the average adult spotfin mojarra swim speed. However, juveniles of the spotfin mojarra, Eucinostomus argenteus, species are known to be slow-swimmers.
How much does a spot-fin mojarra weigh?
The spotfin mojarra can weigh up to 4.2 oz (119.6 g). They are approximately 10 times heavier than the cory catfish! The cory catfish can weigh only up to 0.4 oz (11.2 g)
What are the male and female names of the species?
There are no specific names assigned to males and females of this species.
What would you call a baby spot-fin mojarra?
Like all other fish, a spotfin mojarra baby can be called a fry.
What do they eat?
These fish are benthic feeders and they are known to eat polychaete worms, crustaceans, and bivalves. Their characteristic feature is the downward-pointing jaw that lets these fish forage off the floor.
When it comes to being eaten, these fish are caught by trawls, beach seines, and gillnets. They are sold fresh but are not very popular in the fish market.
Spotfin mojarras are also processed into a fish meal. These fish make the search for tarpons, snooks, and snappers easier when fishermen use them as live bait. These fish are also consumed by game fish such as sharks.
Are they dangerous?
No, this coastal fish is not dangerous!
Would they make a good pet?
Mojarras are kept as pets but they are not very popular in the aquarium trade.
Did you know...
Mojarra fish are known to have existed from the Eocene period that was approximately 55,000,000 years ago!
Charles Frédéric Girard and Spencer Fullerton Baird first formally described the spotfin mojarra, Eucinostomus argenteus, in 1855!
Why is it called a spot-fin mojarra?
The common name for the spotfin mojarra (Eucinostomus argenteus) originated from the distinct black spot on the dorsal fin's front part. This dorsal fin also possesses nine spines, 10 rays, and a dusky-colored tip.
Can you eat them?
Yes, the spotfin mojarra can be consumed by humans. This fish is caught regularly and is sold fresh. However, it is not very popular in the fish market currently. The spotfin mojarra is also processed into a fish meal from time to time.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these rainwater killifish surprising facts and warty frogfish interesting facts pages.
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