Diapterus auratus
Irish Pompano
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Gerreidae (Mojarras)
Diapterus
Diapterus auratus (Irish Pompano)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
It may contain errors in spelling, punctuation, or formatting.
When citing, please reference the original source rather than this page.
Learn more about our species accounts.
Characters
Rather deep bodied, strongly serrated preoperculum, deeply notched dorsal fin, acute and beaklike snout, maxilla extends to about midlength of eye, lachrymal bone lacks serrations, gill rakers on first arch are very short and number 12 to 15 (usually 12 or 13) on lower limb. Measurements (% SL): head length 32%–35%, snout length 8%–10%, eye diameter 10%–11%, last dorsal fin spine length 8%–10%, pelvic fin length 23%–24%, second anal fin spine length 24%–27%, body depth 44%–51%, caudal peduncle depth 12%–13%. Pectoral fin has 16 rays. Dorsal fin has nine spines and 10 rays, with second spine as long as head. Anal fin has three spines and 8 rays (juveniles may have two spines and 9 rays), with second spine very stout. Body covered with large cycloid scales, top of head scaled anteriorly to center of eye. Pored lateral line scales number 35 to 39 (usually 36 or 37).
Silvery, slightly darker dorsally than ventrally, occasionally with four to six faint bars on side. Spinous section of dorsal fin has black edge, pelvic and anal fins are yellowish, other fins are transparent.
Distribution
Western Atlantic from east coast of Florida and the Bahamas to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Antilles. In the Gulf of Mexico, absent from north of Tampa Bay to the Mississippi River.
Habitat Associations
Coastal waters, brackish and saltwater lagoons, and protected bays
Biology
Benthic invertebrates
Maximum known size is 340 mm TL
Inhabits shallow coastal waters, especially in mangrove-lined creeks and lagoons, but also found on vegetated sand grounds in typical marine areas. Young more widespread than adults. Feeds on bottom-dwelling invertebrates. Consumed fresh.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2010-03-01. Resilience: Medium (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: minor commercial.
References
Hoese and Moore 1977 (as Diapterus olisthostomus)
Robins and Ray 1986
Deckert and Greenfield 1987
Cervigón 1993a
Cervigón 1993b
Schaldach et al. 1997
Vega-Cendejas et al. 1997 (as D. olisthostomus)
Castro-Aguirre et al. 1999
Gilmore and Greenfield 2002
Hoese and Moore 1998
Cervigón, F., R. Cipriani, W. Fischer, L. Garibaldi, M. Hendrickx, A.J. Lemus, R. Márquez, J.M. Poutiers, G. Robaina and B. Rodriguez (1992) Fichas FAO de identificación de especies para los fines de la pesca. Guía de campo de las especies comerciales marinas y de aquas salobres de la costa septentrional de Sur América. FAO, Rome. 513 p. Preparado con el financiamento de la Comisión de Comunidades Europeas y de NORAD.
Gómez-Canchong, P., L. Manjarrés M., L.O. Duarte and J. Altamar (2004) Atlas pesquero del area norte del Mar Caribe de Colombia. Universidad del Magadalena, Santa Marta. 230 p.
Patzner, R.A. (2008) Reproductive strategies of fish. pp. 311-350. In Rocha, M.J., A. Arukwe and B.G. Kapoor (eds). Fish reproduction: cytology, biology and ecology. Science Publisher, Inc. Oxford. 631 p.
Viana, A.P., F. Lucena-Frédou, F. Ménard, T. Frédou, V. Ferreira, A.S. Lira and F. Le Loc'h (2016) Length-weight relations of 70 fish species (Actinopterygii) from tropical coastal region of Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil. Acta Ichthyol. Et Pisc. 46(3):271-277.
Comments On Diapterus auratus