Pacific menhaden (Ethmidium maculatum) fish species and information / pictures of Pacific menhaden - Ethmidium maculatum

Pacific menhaden (Ethmidium maculatum) fish species information

Scientific Name
Ethmidium maculatum

Common Name
Pacific menhaden

Biology
Occurs in coastal waters, forming large schools. Feeds by filtering phytoplankton (diatoms) and zooplankton (especially copepods), but will also take small fishes and crustaceans. Breeds in spring (Chile), depositing its eggs in coastal waters on sand, to which the sticky eggs cling, the larvae rising and joining the surface plankton on hatching. Marketed fresh, frozen, or canned.

Classification

Classified By
Valenciennes, 1847
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Herrings (Clupeiformes)
Family
Herrings, shads and sardines (Clupeidae)

Distribution

Region
Southwest Pacific
Distribution
Southwest Pacific: Peru (Puerto Pizarro in Gulf of Guayaquil to Callao and Pisco Bay; presumably to border with Chile, but no records) and Chile (whole coast south to Talcahuano).
Range
0° - 37°S, 86°W - 70°W

Environment

Climate
Tropical
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
0 m
Depth To - meters
50 m
Zone
pelagic-neritic
Environment
Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 0 - 50 m (Ref. 188)
Trophic Level
2.07 s.e. 0.06 Based on diet studies.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
False
Occurs in Fresh Water
False
Occurs on Reefs
False
Is kept in Aquariums
False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
26.0 cm
Common Length
Unknown cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 1.0000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: commercial
Vulnerability
Low to moderate vulnerability (31 of 100)
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Assuming tm=1)
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Data deficient (DD)