Yellowfin mojarra

The yellowfin mojarra (Gerres cinereus) is a species mojarra in the family Gerreidae. The species was originally described by Johann Julius Walbaum in 1792, as part the mullet genus Mugil. They mainly inhabit salt and brackish waters, but will enter fresh water. The species displays an ability akin to gyroscopic stability, allowing it to remain in a remarkably static spatial position relative to the water flowing around it. Compared to other fish in this family, this species is listed as least concern on the IUCN red list. This species thrives in large numbers across its distribution. Their large abundance also makes them a great resource for commercial fisheries today. Although not in high demand, their distribution and availability in shallow coastal areas make them an easy target for fisheries. In Mexico, they generate approximately $9.5 million in revenue per year.

Habitat

Yellowfin mojarra inhabits many places along the western coasts of Southern America and parts of Northern America. Gerres cinereus distribution geologically. Specifically, variations of Yellowfin can be found around the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, Rio de Janeiro, Baja California, Peru, and the Galapagos Islands. They like tropical and subtropical coastal waters but have been reported in some freshwater environments as well. The shallow waters, usually between 1 and 15 meters, are where these fish tend to roam. Sandy bottoms, coral reefs, mangrove zones, and seagrass beds are where they hunt and reside. These fish excel in shallow brackish waters that have plenty of prey and places to camouflage. Atlantic and Pacific yellowfin mojarra, although they are the same species, tend to have non-overlapping ranges. Despite this, many other species of mojarra do overlap in ranges, and as more species have evolved, distinguishing between them has become more and more difficult.