Gulf menhaden
📖 Overview
Occur inshore in summer, but at least some moving into deeper waters from October (Mississippi Delta area). Feed in dense schools, filtering phytoplankton, but probably also feed at the bottom. Apparently breed in winter (October to February, with a peak in January). Salinity tolerance range from 0.1-60 ppt, but the commercial catch is mostly from 5.0-24 ppt. Marketed fresh, salted or canned. Mainly used as source of fish oil; also as fish meal . Isopod is found in the mouth .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Scutes along belly; upper jaw with median notch. Pelvic fin with rounded hind margin, inner fin rays equal or nearly equal to outer fin rays when fin folded back. Pre-dorsal scales modified; scales in lateral series large, those on back and above anal fin base a little smaller and more irregular than rest. A black spot behind gill opening, followed by a series of spots along flank . Back bluish gray, Sides brassy green .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Gulf menhaden is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Gulf menhaden are filter feeders, meaning that they collect food by filtering water through modifications of the branchial apparatus (gill or branchial arches and gill rakers). Like Atlantic menhaden, Gulf menhaden's diet depends on the size of their gill rakers, which change as menhaden age. Larval gulf menhaden feed primary on zooplankton because the rakers are not well developed. The juveniles, which generally correspond to when they are under the age of one, feed on phytoplankton. As they age and their gill rakers fully develop, menhaden shift their diet to primarily consume zooplankton.
🥚 Reproduction
Make inshore-offshore movements . Larvae stay in offshore waters for 3-5 weeks before moving into estuaries where they grow into adults .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 0 - 50 m . Subtropical; 31°N - 18°N, 98°W - 80°W Central Atlantic: Gulf of Mexico (Florida Bay, Gulf of Campeche, Mexico), but no certain records from Caribbean.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Bunker · Gulf menhaden · Mossbunker · Pogy · largescale menhaden |
| 🌍CES | Placka menhaden · menhaden mexický |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Gulf-menhaden |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Заливный менхэден · Мексиканский менхэден |
| 🌍SLV | mehiški menhaden |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | sardina lacha |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brevoortia petronus | Goode | 1878 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 155 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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