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💧 Freshwater Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🎣 Game Fish 🌡️ Tropical

Mexican mojarra

Mayaheros urophthalmus Günther, 1862
Max Length
39.4 cm
Max Weight
1.1 kg
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.9
Depth
-
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
44.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
-

📖 Overview

Adults inhabit freshwater marshes and mangrove swamps. Adults prefer coastal lagoons and rivers and will tolerate marine conditions. They feed on small fishes and macro-invertebrates . Spawn on the bottom in both fresh and brackish water .

Scientific Name
Mayaheros urophthalmus
Authority
Günther, 1862
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
39.4 cm
Max Weight
1.1 kg
Trophic Level
3.9
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
44.00/100
Migration
Non-migratory
Water Temp
20–39 °C

🔬 Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Teleostei
Teleostei
Order
Cichliformes
Cichliformes
Family
Cichlidae
Cichlidae
Genus
Mayaheros
Mayaheros
Species
Mexican mojarra
Mayaheros urophthalmus

🐟 Physical Description

: short and / or deep.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Mexican mojarra is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Mexican mojarra is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Size at Maturity
13.2cm TL

Max. 600 eggs.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; non-migratory ; depth range 2 - ? m . Tropical; 20°C - 39°C ; 27°N - 11°N, 98°W - 80°W Central America: Atlantic drainages from Mexico to Nicaragua.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater 🌿 Brackish
Migration
Non-migratory
Trophic Level
3.9±0.57
Food Items

small fishes and macro-invertebrates (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.02884 × L3.04 (TL)
Max TL
39.4cm
Max Weight
1,100g

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
20–39°C

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2018

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
44.00/100
Moderate vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.9
Predator
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Günther, 1862

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Mexican mojarra is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

Nutrition

Detailed nutritional data for Mexican mojarra is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Mexican mojarra has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Atomic Sunfish · Mayan cichlid · Mexican Mojarra · Orange Tiger
🌍CES kančík skvrnoocasý
🇩🇪German Maya-Buntbarsch · Schwanzfleck-Buntbarsch · Schwanzfleckbuntbarsch
🇫🇮Finnish rengaskirjoahven
🇵🇹Portuguese Acará-maia
🇷🇺Russian Цихлазома глазчатохвостая
🇪🇸Spanish Castarrica · Cíclido jaguar del sureste · Mojarra castarrica · Mojarra del México · mojarra del sureste
🌍THA ปลาหมอมายัน
🇨🇳Chinese 高眼麗體魚

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Astronotus urophthalmus Günther 1862 Synonym
Cichlasoma urophthalmus Günther 1862 Synonym
Herichthys urophthalmus Günther 1862 Synonym
Heros urophthalmus Günther 1862 Synonym
Nandopsis urophthalmus Günther 1862 Synonym
Parapetenia urophthalma Günther 1862 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 42 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
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View all observations for Mexican mojarra ↗
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