Cape silverside (Atherina breviceps)

Scientific name: Atherina breviceps Valenciennes, 1835

Cape silverside (Atherina breviceps)

The Cape silverside (Atherina breviceps) is a freshwater fish of the family Atherinidae. Native range: Southeast Atlantic, restricted from L?deritz, Namibia to northern Natal, South Africa.

Biology

Forms schools along the coast and in estuaries, especially during spring. Also found in coastal lakes. Small individuals filter out small organisms such as phytoplankton and rotifers. Above 3.5 cm TL, it feeds mostly on crustaceans especially amphipods taken from the water column as well as off the bottom. Preyed upon by fishes and birds.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Atherina breviceps
Family
Atherinidae (Silversides)
Order
Atheriniformes (Silversides)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
11.0
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; pelagic-neritic
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Southeast Atlantic: restricted from L?deritz, Namibia to northern Natal, South Africa.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; bait: usually
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

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

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