Fish Identification Photos: Peruvian Mojarra, Diapterus peruvianus: The Peruvian Mojarra has an overall silvery appearance and is characterized by an oval body which is 1.9 to 2.0 longer than it is wide, a very long thick second anal spine, long anal and dorsal fin lobes, a tail with long pointed lobes, and yellow anal and pelvic fins.

The Peruvian Mojarra has long pectoral fins reaching beyond the anal fin origin. The dorsal fin has a small notch between the spiny and bony portions and the lips are not thickened.

The Peruvian Mojarra reaches a maximum length of 38 cm and is found in the first 100 feet of the water column over sandy bottoms in bays, estuaries, and the lower portions of brackish streams.

The Peruvian Mojarra is most likely confused with the Black Axillary Mojarra, Eugerres axillaris (lacks yellow anal and pelvic fins).

In Mexican waters the Peruvian Mojarra is found from Magdalena Bay south along the Pacific coast of Baja California, in the lower two-thirds of the Sea of Cortez, and along the Mexican coastal mainland south to Guatemala. It is sold commercially in the major Mexican food stores and considered to be an excellent food fish.

The Peruvian Mojarra is a member of the Gerreidae family which are known in Mexico as mojarras.

Peruvian Mojarra, Diapterus peruvianus: A commercially caught fish courtesy of Soriana’s Market, San José del Cabo, Mexico, April 2008. Size 17 cm. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.