Sand smelt (Atherina presbyter) fish species and information / pictures of Sand smelt - Atherina presbyter

Sand smelt (Atherina presbyter) fish species information

Scientific Name
Atherina presbyter

Common Name
Sand smelt

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 7 - 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-14; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 14 - 17. Scales in longitudinal series 52-57. Vertebrae 46-52 (Morocco), 49-52 (the Netherlands). No pyloric appendages. A large, characteristic, brilliant silvery stripe running along flanks from head to tail, often outlined in black. No true lateral line (Ref. 232). Eye diameter same with snout length (Ref. 35388).

Classification

Classified By

Cuvier, 1829

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Silversides (Atheriniformes)

Family

Silversides (Atherinidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: Kattegat (rare) and British Isles to Canary Islands, Mauritania and Cape Verde, also western Mediterranean.

Range

60°N - 14°N, 26°W - 17°E

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

pelagic-neritic

Environment

Marine; brackish; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243)

Trophic Level

3.67 s.e. 0.43 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

20.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5312 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: subsistence fisheries

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (20 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.70; tmax=4)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated