Flagfin Mojarra

Eucinostomus melanopterus

The Flagfin Mojarra is a coastal fish known for its fusiform and compressed body shape, with a pointed snout and a strongly protrusible mouth. It is easily recognizable by the black spot at the tip of its spinous dorsal fin, underlined by a whitish band. Its back is olivaceous, while the sides are silvery, and young individuals may display dark vertical bars on their back and sides. This species inhabits the eastern Atlantic, from Senegal to Angola, and the western Atlantic, from Bermuda and Florida to Brazil. It is notably absent from the Bahamas. The Flagfin Mojarra thrives in a range of environments, including marine, freshwater, and brackish waters, and is commonly found in estuaries, coastal rivers, and lagoons over sandy or muddy bottoms. It typically forages in small groups during the day, feeding on fish, shrimps, mollusks, zooplankton, and detritus. Divers encountering the Flagfin Mojarra may observe it hovering close to the bottom, picking off prey or sifting through sediment. Although not highly esteemed in fisheries, it plays a role in the ecosystem as a minor commercial species. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern.