---
title: Blacktip Mojarra (Gerres oyena)
scientific_name: Gerres oyena
common_name: Blacktip Mojarra
taxon: Mojarra
conservation_status: LC - Least Concern
published: 2024-11-13T09:15:19.410Z
updated: 2026-08-08T21:29:09.330Z
tags: Blacktip Mojarra, Gerres oyena, Mojarra, Red Sea, Marine Life, Diving
url: https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/mojarra/blacktip-mojarra
---

# Blacktip Mojarra (*Gerres oyena*)

## Quick facts

- **Group:** Mojarra (*Gerreidae*)
- **Size:** 20 - 30 cm
- **Depth:** 1-20 m
- **Conservation status:** LC - Least Concern

The Blacktip Mojarra (Gerres oyena) is a marine and brackish species commonly associated with reef environments, inhabiting depths ranging from 1 to 20 meters. This fish can reach a maximum length of 30 cm, although it is more commonly observed at around 20 cm.

The Blacktip Mojarra predominantly inhabits coastal regions, saltwater lagoons, and estuaries, as well as sand-bottom areas in sheltered waters adjacent to reefs. It can be found either individually or in groups and primarily feeds on small organisms dwelling in sandy substrates.

Characterized by its silvery body, the Blacktip Mojarra displays 6 to 8 irregular, faint dusky oblique and vertical bands both dorsolaterally and ventrolaterally, features that are more noticeable in younger individuals or those under stress or preservation. Its U-shaped premaxilla groove generally lacks scales, with only tiny scales present anteriorly in specimens exceeding 13 cm in length. The maxillary extends beyond a vertical line through the anterior margin of the pupil. The species possesses three supraneural bones, a faint dusky patch on the spinous dorsal fin (spines 2 to 6), and narrow dusky distal margins on the membranes between the spines. Typically, scales between the 5th dorsal fin spine and lateral line number between 3 and 4, often 3.5. The pelvic fin is semi-transparent or dull yellow with an indistinct dusky band and dull white distal margin posteriorly when fresh; the pectoral fins extend beyond the level of the anus; the caudal fin is deeply forked with elongated lobes.

The Blacktip Mojarra is distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea to South Africa, extending eastward to the Marshall and Samoa Islands, northward to the Ryukyu Islands, and southward to Queensland, Australia (including the Great Barrier Reef) and New Caledonia.

This species is often utilized in the production of fish meal and as duck feed and is commonly sold fresh in markets.

## Also known as

- **English:** common silver-biddy, Blacktip Silver Biddy, slenderspine mojarra
- **Arabic:** فضي الجسم أسود الطرف, فضي الجسم جزيرة دارنلي, فضي الجسم طويل الذيل
- **Hebrew:** שרבב נובר
- **French:** Blanche à dorsale noire, Blanche commune, Breton blanc
- **Italian:** Gerreide comune
- **German:** Schwarzspitzen-Silberling
- **Spanish:** Mojarra Plateada de Punta Negra, Mojarra Común
- **Portuguese:** Mojarra-do-Kiribati
- **Czech:** ostnušíček štíhlý
- **Japanese:** ミナミクロサギ, Minamikurosagi
- **Chinese:** 奥奈银鲈, 奧奈銀鱸, 奧奈鑽嘴魚
- **Russian:** Полосатая мохарра
- **KO:** 남방게레치
- **TH:** ปลาดอกหมากเรียว

## Scientific synonyms

- *Cichla argyrea* Forster, 1801
- *Diapterus kapas* (Bleeker, 1851)
- *Diapterus oyena* (Forsskål, 1775)
- *Gerreomorpha rostrata* Alleyne & MacLeay, 1877
- *Gerres argyreus* (Forster, 1801)
- *Gerres australis* Castelnau, 1875
- *Gerres carinatus* Alleyne & MacLeay, 1877
- *Gerres kapas* Bleeker, 1851
- *Gerres oynea* (Forsskål, 1775)
- *Gerres socotranus* Steindachner, 1902
- *Gerres splendens* De Vis, 1884
- *Gerres vaigiensis* Quoy & Gaimard, 1824
- *Labrus oeyena* Forsskål, 1775
- *Labrus oyena* Forsskål, 1775
- *Labrus öyena* Forsskål, 1775
- *Smaris oyena* (Forsskål, 1775)
- *Xystaema kapas* (Bleeker, 1851)
- *Xystaema oyena* (Forsskål, 1775)

## Range

Djibouti, East Africa, Federal Republic of Somalia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Red Sea, Republic of Mauritius, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania

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*Source: [Red Sea Creatures](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/fishes/bony-fishes/mojarra/blacktip-mojarra)*
*Updated: August 8, 2026*