Big-scale sand smelt (Atherina boyeri) fish species and information / pictures of Big-scale sand smelt - Atherina boyeri

Big-scale sand smelt (Atherina boyeri) fish species information

Scientific Name
Atherina boyeri

Common Name
Big-scale sand smelt

Biology
A very euryhaline species, which is frequently found in brackish waters and more sporadically in freshwater (Ref. 3788), preferring still or slow flowing waters (Ref. 59043). Adults occur in great schools. Carnivorous, feeds on small crustaceans, worms, mollusks (Ref. 5980) and fish larvae (Ref. 35388).

Classification

Classified By

Risso, 1810

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Silversides (Atheriniformes)

Family

Silversides (Atherinidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: Portugal and Spain to Nouadhibou in Mauritania and Madeira, and throughout the Mediterranean and Black Sea. Isolated populations on coasts of England and the Netherlands (Ref. 5980). Two subspecies recognized in Russian waters: Atherina boyeri pontica (Eichwald, 1838) from the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov and Atherina boyeri caspia (Eichwald, 1838) from the Caspian Sea (Ref. 26334).

Range

53°N - 20°N, 18°W - 42°E

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; amphidromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 1 - ? m

Trophic Level

2.32 s.e. 0.26 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

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: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (43 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.8; tm=1; tmax=4;)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)