Diapterus auratus
Ranzani 1842
Family Gerreidae

Lateral view of an Irish pompano
This Irish pompano was collected in Brevard County, Florida in 2014. It is now part of the Florida Museum ichthyology collection, UF 187782. Florida Museum photo by Zachary Randall

The Irish pompano is a member of the mojarra family. This species has a deep, rhomboidal body and pointed snout. The mouth is protrusible and subterminal, and the ventral edge of the preorbital bone is smooth. The pharyngeal teeth are large and pointed, and the body is silver and unpatterned. The dorsal and anal spines are robust, and the second anal spine is large but shorter than the anal fin base. The pectoral fin is large and falcate. The Irish pompano is a marine species that lives over sandy or muddy substrate and enters a variety of nearshore water bodies, including rivers, creeks, canals and ditches.

Status & distribution

  • Status — Marine invader
  • Florida Distribution — Gulf Coast, South Florida and Atlantic Coast
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