Eucinostomus harengulus

Family	Scientific Name	Author	Year	Common Name
Gerreidae	Eucinostomus harengulus	Goode and Bean	1879	Tidewater Mojarra

Eucinostomus harengulus

Unique Characters: Silvery with dark bars and spots, some of the bars are Y-shaped. Spinous dorsal fin without a white pigmented area bordered above and below by black pigment; outer part of dorsal fin may be dusky. Scaleless premaxillary groove not crossed anteriorly by scales or constricted. No distinct, dark, V-shaped mark on snout, area between nares usually with fairly uniform pigment. Margin of preopercle smooth. Second dorsal-fin spine equal to or shorter than distance between tip of snout and posterior margin of orbit. Body oblong to moderately deep, the depth 2.4-3.3 in standard length (= 30-42% standard length, most less than 37% standard length). Scales on each side of depressed, naked area over premaxillary process extend forward of vertical line from anterior margin of orbit. Pelvic fins colorless. Anal fin with three spines in specimens over 40 mm standard length; third anal spine not ossified and unbranched in specimens under 40 mm standard length. Body pigment based on 7 dorsal bars and 6 primary lateral spots; 3 secondary spots. Body variously pigmented. 8 gill rakers on lower limb of first gill arch. Length of anal-fin base 13.4-15.2% standard length. Lateral-line scales 43-46, usually 45. Body deeper 2.8-3.0 in standard length (= 33.2-35.9% standard length). Least depth of caudal peduncle 10.4-11.1% standard length.

Similar Species: Slender Mojarra Eucinostomus jonesii. Body very slender. Pigment on snout between nares often with a distinct, dark V-shaped mark separated from premaxillary groove by unpigmented band anterior to orbits. Spinous dorsal fin without a white pigmented area bordered above and below by black pigment; outer part of dorsal fin may be dusky. Scaleless premaxillary groove not crossed anteriorly by scales or constricted. Margin of preopercle smooth. Second dorsal-fin spine equal to or shorter than distance between tip of snout and posterior margin of orbit. Scales on each side of depressed, naked area over premaxillary process extend forward of vertical line from anterior margin of orbit. Pelvic fins colorless. Anal fin with three spines in specimens over 40 mm standard length; third anal spine not ossified and unbranched in specimens under 40 mm standard length. Body pigment based on 7 dorsal bars and 6 primary lateral spots; 3 secondary spots. Body variously pigmented. 8 gill rakers on lower limb of first gill arch. Length of anal-fin base 13.4-15.2% standard length. Lateral-line scales 47 or 48. Body depth 3.1-3.3 in standard length (= 30.2-32.1% standard length). Least depth of caudal peduncle 8.9-10.1% standard length.

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