| Family: |
Atherinidae (Silversides), subfamily: Atherinomorinae |
| Max. size: |
13.3 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine |
| Distribution: |
Western Indian Ocean: endemic to the Red Sea and has invaded the eastern Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 5-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-10; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 11-15; Vertebrae: 40-44. 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 the upper jaw reaching to or exceeding a vertical through anterior margin of the pupil, and not reaching to a vertical through center of the pupil; teeth on endopterygoids large, forming distinct ridges; anus located around posterior tip of the pelvic fin; lower gill rakers 20-23; midlateral scale count 39-43; lower margin of midlateral band reaching to or just below ventral end of the midlateral (third) scale row at the level of the anal fin origin (Ref. 58474). |
| Biology: |
Feeds on zooplankton, small bottom-living invertebrates (Ref. 5980). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
