Centropomus mexicanus Bocourt, 1868
Largescale fat snook
Centropomus mexicanus
photo by Dutka-Gianelli, J.

Family:  Centropomidae (Snooks)
Max. size:  47.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: eastern Mexico and Greater Antilles to Venezuela and Porto Alegre in Brazil.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Occurs in mouths of rivers and the littoral zone; spawns on banks; feeds on small fish and crustaceans (Ref. 35237). Juveniles bear conspicuous black tip on the dorsal fin and often join foraging groups of similarly sized and looking flagfin mojarras, Eucinostomus melanopterus. The snooks mingle with the mojarras and prey on fishes and shrimps attracted to the digging activity of the mojarras. The resemblance to a fish harmless to shrimps and small fishes allows the snook to approach this otherwise wary prey, an example of aggressive mimicry (Ref. 43465).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 07 February 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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