Mojarras

This family

Images coming soon.

BODY oblong or elevated, covered with large, smooth scales; lateral line continuous, concurrent with the back; mouth moderate, extremely protractile, descending when protruded, the spines of the premaxillary extending to above eye, closing a deep groove in top of head; maxillary without supplemental maxillary bone, its surface silvery like the rest of the head; base of mandible scaly; jaws with slender, villiform teeth; no incisors, canines, nor molars; no teeth on vomer or palatines; preopercle entire or serrate; sides of head scaly; dorsal fin single, continuous or deeply notched, the spinous and soft parts about equally developed, a scaly sheath along the base; dorsal spines usually 9 or 10; anal usually with 3 spines, the soft anal similar to the soft dorsal but shorter.

This family contains 6 to 8 genera and about 40 species, all carnivorous fishes of moderate or small size, inhabiting tropical seas.

In our waters 4 of the genera are represented by 17 species, the larger ones being used as food. None of them, however, is of great importance, and they have no value as game-fishes.

a. Second interhaemal spine singularly developed as a hollow cylinder, comparatively short and much expanded, the posterior end of the air-bladder entering its cavity; preopercle and preorbital entire; anal spines 3, the second not much enlarged. Eucinostomus

aa. Second interhaemal spine normally developed, not hollow, the air-bladder not entering it.

b. Second interhaemal spine very short, bluntish; anal spines 2, both small; preopercle and preorbital entire .......Ulaema

bb. Second interhaemal spine long, spear-shaped; anal spines 2 or 3, the second enlarged.

c. Preopercle entire; second anal spine moderate......Xystaema