Author: (Bleeker, 1863)
FBname: Flagfin mojarra
Comments: A coastal species entering estuaries, lower courses of coastal rivers, and lagoons (Ref. 4323, 7352, 57394).  Found over sand or mud bottoms (Ref. 3722, 57394).  Feeds on fish, shrimps, mollusks, zooplankton and detritus (Ref. 28587); including other benthic crustaceans and polychaetes.  Forages at daytime in small groups, hovering close to the bottom and either picks off prey on the substrate or digs into it sifting the mouthed sediment through its opercular openings.  Its conspicuous black tip on dorsal fin is mimicked by juvenile guianan snooks, <i>Centropomus mexicanus</i>, an example of aggressive mimicry (Ref. 43465).  Marketed fresh but not highly esteemed (Ref. 3722).