Malacho (Elops smithi)

Scientific name: Elops smithi McBride, Rocha, Ruiz-Carus & Bowen, 2010

The Malacho (Elops smithi) is a brackish-water fish of the family Elopidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, coasts of the Americas, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean islands.

Biology

Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-27; Anal soft rays: 16 - 19; Vertebrae: 73 - 80. This species is distinguished from Elops saurus in the number of vertebrae 73-80 but usually 75-78 vs. 79-87, often 81-85, respectively (vs. E. senegalensis 67, E. machnata 63-64, and E. hawaiensis 68-70). This species has a lower gill raker count, 10-15 on lower limb of the first arch (vs. E. affinis 16-20 and E. lacerta 17-19).

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Elops smithi
Family
Elopidae (Tenpounders)
Order
Elopiformes (Tarpons and Tenpounders)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
44.0
Environment
Marine; brackish; pelagic-neritic
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Western Atlantic: coasts of the Americas, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean islands.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless

Sources

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

Last updated