Scientific Name
Atherinops affinis

Common Name
Topsmelt silverside

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 6 - 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-14; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 19 - 25; Vertebrae: 44 - 52. Blue gray to green above, silvery below; a striking silver band bordered above with blue extends the full length of the body (Ref. 6885). Branchiostegal rays: 5-6 (Ref. 36497).

Classification

Classified By

Ayres, 1860

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Silversides (Atheriniformes)

Family

Neotropical silversides (Atherinopsidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Pacific

Distribution

Eastern Pacific: Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada to Baja California, Mexico and the Gulf of California.

Range

55°N - 23°N

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

Trophic Level

2.76 s.e. 0.28 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

37.0 cm

Common Length

28.0 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 (32 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2; tmax=7; Fec = 1,000)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)