Narrow-banded hardyhead silverside

📖 Overview

Narrow-banded hardyhead silverside (Atherinomorus pinguis), first described by Lacepède, 1803 is a small fish in the family Atherinidae (order Atheriniformes). Adults typically reach 13.60 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. It occurs in Subtropical waters. It feeds on a mix of small fish and invertebrates as a mid-level predator. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Least Concern.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 5 - 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 11; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 12 - 16; Vertebrae: 39 - 43. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: lateral process of premaxilla very low and wide; upper margin of dentary almost flat distally, no distinct tubercle at the posterior end; posterior tip of upper jaw reaching to or beyond a vertical through anterior margin of pupil, and rarely reaching to the center of pupil; teeth on endopterygoids small, not forming distinct ridges; anus usually just before the posterior tip of pelvic fin, rarely beyond it; lower gill rakers 19-23; midlateral scale count 38-41; lower margin of midlateral band just reaching to the ventral end of the midlateral (third) scale row or slightly above it at level of anal fin origin .: fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Narrow-banded hardyhead silverside is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated. Subtropical West Pacific, widely distributed from East Africa to northern Australia and north to southern Japan.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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