Ladyfish

📖 Overview

Adults occur in shallow neritic areas, over muddy bottoms . Also found in brackish estuaries and juveniles are common in lagoons and hyper-saline bays . They form large schools close to the shore . Feed mainly on crustaceans and small fishes. Spawn in the open sea . Larval development is represented by profound changes in body form accompanied by 2 periods of length increase, interspaced by a period of length decrease . Noted for their habit of skipping along the surface of the water and for jumping after being hooked . Marketed fresh, salted and frozen but considered a second rate food fish . Rhynchobothrium bulbifer found in the viscera of the adult .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25 - 29; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 16 - 19; Vertebrae: 73 - 85. Scales small, more than 100 in lateral line. Gular plate narrow . Silvery overall, with bluish on upper surface . Branchiostegal rays: 26-33 .: elongated; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Ladyfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Ladyfish is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Spawns offshore, the larvae drifting towards the coast where they shelter and grow . Leptocephalus larvae are found in salinities as low as 0.0+ to 0.8 ppt .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; brackish; demersal; pH range: 0.0 - 10.4; anadromous ; depth range 0 - 50 m . Subtropical; 11°C - 34°C ; 29°N - 17°S

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 255 records indexed .

👥 Community & Contribute