Fish Identification Photos: Longfin Salema, Xenichythys xanti: The Longfin Salema has an overall silver appearance with 6 orange-brown stripes on the upper two-thirds of the sides with wide bodies (34 to 36 percent width to length), large eyes, and an oblique mouth with a projecting lower jaw. A key to identification of the Longfin Salema is that the spinous base of the dorsal fin is shorter than the base of the rayous part.

Some specimens have a black spot at the base of the caudal fin (as pictured below) but this disappears with maturity. The Longfin Salema has a lateral line that crosses the stripes, short pectoral fins, and a slightly concave caudal fin.

The Longfin Salema is a member of the Grunt or Haemulidae Family, known in Mexico as "burros." In Mexico, the Longfin Salema is found along the Pacific coast of the Baja California peninsula from Magdalena Bay south, in the lower one-third of the Sea of Cortez, and along the coast of mainland Mexico to Guatemala. It appears to be absent from the oceanic islands.

The Longfin Salema grows to a length of 8 inches and is generally found over sandy bottoms in the first 30 feet of the water column. The Longfin Salema can be easily confused with the California Salema, Xenistius californiensis (spinous part of dorsal fin is longer than base of rayous part; no black spot at tail base), the Wavyline Grunt, Microlepidotus inornatus (seven to nine narrow orange stripes that cover the complete body), and the Yelloweye Croaker, Odontoscion xanthops (rounded tail and black anal and pelvic fins). The Longfin Salema is of limited interest due to its size and its rarity.

Longfin Salema, Xenichythys xanti: Shows up when one purchases a “scoop of bait.” Caught in the surf zone, La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, during the winter months, with water temperatures below 78-degrees, early morning, in 5 to 10-foot deep water, utilizing a cast net by panguero bait salesmen. Size approximately 6 inches and quite hefty for its size. Does survive a panga “bait tank” at a high level. Fish identification courtesy Dr. Ross Robertson, Smithsonian Institute, Panama.