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Diadromous 🌡️ Subtropical

Mediterranean sand smelt

Atherina hepsetus Linnaeus, 1758
Max Length
20 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.2
Depth
-
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
33.00/100
Typical Length
15 cm
Depth Zone
pelagic

📖 Overview

Littoral, often near shore. Gregarious, sometimes occurs in marine lagoons (France) and estuaries (Portugal). Feed on pelagic copepods and benthic crustaceans .

Scientific Name
Atherina hepsetus
Authority
Linnaeus, 1758
Habitat
Diadromous
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Elongated
Max Length
20 cm
Trophic Level
3.2
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
33.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Teleostei
Teleostei
Order
Atheriniformes
Atheriniformes
Family
Atherinidae
Atherinidae
Genus
Atherina
Atherina
Species
Mediterranean sand smelt
Atherina hepsetus

🐟 Physical Description

Total scales in midlateral series 59-65. Anal fin with 10-12 1/2 rays .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Mediterranean sand smelt is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

All Atherina species are carnivorous. They often school near riverbanks where they feed on worms, mollusks, larvae, and crustaceans.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Mediterranean sand smelt is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; freshwater; brackish; pelagic-neritic. Subtropical; 45°N - 25°N, 20°W - 45°E

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 💧 Freshwater 🌿 Brackish 🐟 Pelagic
Trophic Level
3.2±0.33
Food Items

pelagic copepods and benthic crustaceans (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.0055 × L3.08 (TL)
Max TL
20cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
33.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.2
Predator
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Linnaeus, 1758

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Atherina athaerina Nardo 1827 Synonym
Hepsetia hepsetus Linnaeus 1758 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 9 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
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View all observations for Mediterranean sand smelt ↗
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