Gerres nigri Günther, 1859
Guinean striped mojarra
Gerres nigri
photo by Modder, T.

Family:  Gerreidae (Mojarras)
Max. size:  20 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; brackish; marine; depth range - 60 m,
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: west African coast, from Guinea to Congo (Ref. 57394). Also reported from Senegal (Ref. 4323, 28587, 33587), Gambia (Ref. 5476), Guinea-Bissau (Ref. 26999) and as far south as Angola (Ref. 3166).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Diagnosis: body oblong and compressed; snout pointed, shorter than eye diameter; mouth strongly protrusible; nostrils contiguous, situated at midpoint between eye and snout tip; dorsal fin deeply notched; pectoral fins long, reaching to, or extending beyond anal-fin origin; large cycloid scales; scales of the interocular space not reaching anterior border of eyes; spinous part of dorsal fin greyish, without a black spot at tip (Ref. 57394). Coloration: back olivaceous-brown, sides silvery, with longitudinal dark bands; young individuals with narrow, dark vertical bars on sides; spinous part of dorsal fin distally greyish, but without a distinct black spot at tip; juveniles with 2 longitudinal series of dark spots on dorsal fin (Ref. 57394).
Biology:  Occurs on littoral mud and sand bottoms to about 60 m depth (Ref. 57394). Often enters estuaries and coastal lagoons (Ref. 7375) during reproduction (Ref. 57394). Feeds on fish, shrimps, mollusks, plankton and detritus (Ref. 28587).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 14 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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