Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus)

Scientific name: Brevoortia tyrannus Latrobe, 1802

Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus)

The Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Clupeidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 26°C (79°F). Native range: Western Atlantic, Nova Scotia, Canada southward to Indian River, Florida, USA.

Atlantic menhaden care at a glance

Temperature
26°C (79°F)

Biology

Found inshore in summer, but at least some moving into deeper water in winter. Adults are found in near surface waters, usually in shallow areas overlying continental shelf, in greatest abundance immediately adjacent to major estuaries. Juveniles are also generally pelagic, with smallest size groups farthest up river. Form large and very compact schools, both of juveniles and adults. Migrate north - south; also in and out of bays and inlets. Feed by filtering phytoplankton (diatoms) and zooplankton (small crustaceans, annelid worms and detritus). High water temperatures apparently limit breeding. Spawn probably all year; nursery areas in estuaries. Larvae are pelagic, probably spend about a month in waters over continental shelf, entering estuarine waters at about 10 m

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Brevoortia tyrannus
Family
Clupeidae (Herrings, shads and sardines)
Order
Clupeiformes (Herrings)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
50.0
Depth range
0–50 m (0–164 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish;; pH range: 1.0 - 36.0 pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 50 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada southward to Indian River, Florida, USA.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: highly commercial
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.4; tm=1-3; Fec=38,000)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated