Flagfin Mojarra

Eucinostomus melanopterus

The Flagfin Mojarra is seen less often than the Yellowfin, they also grow to only about half the size, 6 inches. They swim about in shallow, sand bottoms areas and sea grass beds and stop now and then to "Peck" for food; small invertebrates buried in the sand. Sometimes if you dig in the sand, they (and all the wrasses in the area) will come over to scavenge for food. I've only seen these smaller juveniles, and only twice. They stop moving very rarely, unlike the Yellowfin that will hover in one place for a time.