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Family Gerreidae. Mojarras Common species: Spotfin Mojarra ( Eucinostomus argenteus ). Gerreidae Characteristics. Highly protrusible jaw, compressed silvery body Use mouth for feeding on benthic invertebrates Passes sand out gill slits and captures prey on gill rakers
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Family Gerreidae • Mojarras • Common species: • Spotfin Mojarra (Eucinostomus argenteus) Gerreidae, Haemulidae, & Sparidae
Gerreidae Characteristics • Highly protrusible jaw, compressed silvery body • Use mouth for feeding on benthic invertebrates • Passes sand out gill slits and captures prey on gill rakers • The silver jenny (Eucinostomus gula) and spotfin mojarra (Eucinostomus argenteus) are almost indistinguishable Gerreidae, Haemulidae, & Sparidae
Family Haemulidae • Grunts • Common species: • Tomtate (Haemulon aurolineatum) • White Grunt (Haemulon plumeri) • Pigfish (Orthopristis chrysoptera) Gerreidae, Haemulidae, & Sparidae
Beautiful schooling fish, usually found associated with reefs Small mouth and teeth, large molariform teeth on pharynx Haemulidae Characteristics French Grunts Gerreidae, Haemulidae, & Sparidae
Diurnal Migrations • Form diurnal aggregations on reefs and migrate to sand and grass beds to feed • Interestingly, migrations always follow the same route • Routes are not genetically inherited, but learned socially as “cultural traditions” Gerreidae, Haemulidae, & Sparidae
We have to stop meeting like this!! White Grunts Gerreidae, Haemulidae, & Sparidae
White Grunt (Haemulon plumieri) • Caught frequently in the S.E. U.S., one of the largest grunts (25” and 8lbs.) Gerreidae, Haemulidae, & Sparidae
Tomtate (Haemulon aurolineatum) • The smallest of the grunts; it is not commercially viable Gerreidae, Haemulidae, & Sparidae
Family Sparidae • Porgies • Common species: • Red Porgy (Pagrus pagrus) • Whitebone Porgy (Calamus leucosteus) • Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) • Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) Gerreidae, Haemulidae, & Sparidae
Continuous dorsal fin; front jaw has incisor-like or canine teeth Grunt-like in appearance, but feeding habits are more diversified Have well-developed molariform teeth on pharyngeal jaws Sparidae Characteristics Gerreidae, Haemulidae, & Sparidae
Red Porgy • Was once one of NC’s most valued reef fish but severely overfished in 1980’s Gerreidae, Haemulidae, & Sparidae
Pinfish • Ubiquitous, omnivores (mostly plants) • Larvae are found in estuaries in late winter and early spring Gerreidae, Haemulidae, & Sparidae