Scientific Name
Selene peruviana

Common Name
Peruvian moonfish

Biology
Body very short, deep, and compressed; lower branch of first gill arch with 30 to 35 gill rakers; dorsal fin with 8 spines followed by another spine and 21 to 24 soft rays (VIII1, 21-24); anterior lobe of second dorsal and anal fins not elongated in adults; anterior dorsal spines prolonged in juveniles; body scaleless; lateral line scutes very weak and poorly differentiated; body silvery to gold with metallic blue highlights; juveniles silvery, with a dark oval stain on the straight part of the lateral line (ref. 55763).

Classification

Classified By

Guichenot, 1866

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Jacks and pompanos (Carangidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Pacific

Distribution

Eastern Pacific: Redondo Beach in southern California, USA to Peru; rare north of Baja California, Mexico.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

50 m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Marine; benthopelagic; depth range ? - 50 m (Ref. 9283)

Trophic Level

4.25 s.e. 0.69 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

40.0 cm

Common Length

24.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5039 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (27 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)