Overview

Comprehensive Description

Description

Common names: mojarra (English), mojarra (Espanol), palmito (Espanol)
 
Diapterus aureolus (Jordan & Gilbert, 1882)


Golden mojarra



Body oval (depth ~ 45% of SL), compressed; the lower profile of the head distinctively concave; the mouth highly extensible, pointing downward when protruded; lower border of preopercle finely serrated; bone under front of eye with smooth border; teeth inside throat all pointed; dorsal rays IX, 10, elevated at front,  notched deeply to base between spines and rays, 2nd  spine longer than distance between tip of snout and rear of eye; anal rays III, 8, 2nd  spine relatively large, but shorter than fin base; pectoral reaches past level of anal fin origin; tail fin deeply forked; lateral line very high on side, well above longitudinal axis of body along all of body; scales on front of body enlarged, becoming much smaller on tail base, conspicuous and finely rough, covering most of head and body; dorsal and anal fins fold into a high scaly sheath along their bases; lateral-line scales 35-36.

Silvery white, often with golden tint; fins yellowish, first dorsal with grey base, whitish center and black tip.


Size: grows to at least 20 cm.

Inhabits sand-mud bottoms of shallow coastal seas.

Depth: 0-30 m?

The Gulf of California to northern Peru.

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Biology

More information not available.
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Distribution

Range Description

This species is endemic to the Eastern Pacific, and is found from the Gulf of California, Mexico to northern Peru.
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Depth

Depth Range (m): 0 (G) - 30 (G)
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Zoogeography

See Map (including site records) of Distribution in the Tropical Eastern Pacific


 
Global Endemism: All species, East Pacific endemic, Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) endemic

Regional Endemism: All species, TEP endemic, Continental TEP endemic, 3 provinces (Cortez + Mexican + Panamic) endemic, Continent, Continent only

Residency: Resident

Climate Zone: North Temperate (Californian Province &/or Northern Gulf of California), Northern Subtropical (Cortez Province + Sinaloan Gap), Northern Tropical (Mexican Province to Nicaragua + Revillagigedos), Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo)

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Eastern Pacific: Costa Rica to northern Peru.
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Physical Description

Morphology

Size

Length max (cm): 20.0 (S)
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Size

Maximum size: 150 mm SL
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Max. size

15.0 cm SL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 9303))
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Type Information

Type for Gerres aureolus
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Collector(s): C. Gilbert
Locality: Panama, Pacific
  • Type:
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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

Habitat and Ecology
This demersal species is found on sand-mud substrate of shallow coastal seas. It can sometimes be found in estuaries, but prefers marine habitat.

Systems
  • Marine
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Depth range based on 14 specimens in 1 taxon.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 1.5 - 194

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 1.5 - 194
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
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Habitat

Salinity: Marine, Brackish

Inshore/Offshore: Inshore, Inshore Only

Water Column Position: Bottom, Bottom only

Habitat: Soft bottom (mud, sand,gravel, beach, estuary & mangrove), Soft bottom only, Mud, Sand & gravel, Estuary

FishBase Habitat: Bentho-Pelagic
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Environment

benthopelagic; marine
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Trophic Strategy

Feeding

Feeding Group: Carnivore

Diet: mobile benthic worms, mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs), mobile benthic gastropods/bivalves
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Life History and Behavior

Reproduction

Reproduction

Egg Type: Pelagic, Pelagic larva
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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment


Red List Category
LC
Least Concern

Red List Criteria

Version
3.1

Year Assessed
2010

Assessor/s
van der Heiden, A., Rojas, P., Cotto, A.

Reviewer/s
Carpenter, K., Polidoro, B., Livingstone, S. (Global Marine Species Assessment Team)

Contributor/s

Justification
This species is widespread in the Eastern Pacific, and is common throughout its range. There are no known major threats to this species, and no current indication of population decline from fishing activities. It is listed as Least Concern.
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Conservation status

IUCN Red List: Not evaluated / Listed

CITES: Not listed
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Population

Population
This species is fairly common in the Gulf of California and Nicaragua. However, it has not been observed in Colombia or Ecuador. It is present but not common in the Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica (Rojas 2001).

Population Trend
Unknown
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Threats

Least Concern (LC)
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Management

Conservation Actions

Conservation Actions
There are no known conservation measures for this species. However, this species' distribution falls partially into a number of Marine Protected Areas in the Eastern Pacific region (WDPA 2006).
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems

Benefits

Importance

fisheries: subsistence fisheries
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