Pacific ladyfish (Elops affinis)

Scientific name: Elops affinis Regan, 1909

Pacific ladyfish (Elops affinis)

The Pacific ladyfish (Elops affinis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Elopidae. Native range: Eastern Pacific, Mandalay Beach, southern California, USA to Peru, including the Gulf of California.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-27; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 18; Vertebrae: 78 - 82. Body slender and elongate; mouth large and terminal; bony plate present between branches of lower jaw; branchiostegal rays very numerous (25 to 35); fins lacking spines; lower branch of first gill arch with 16 to 20 gill rakers; scales very small, 100 to 120 in the lateral line; back dark blue-green to light brown; flanks silvery with slight yellow highlights; fins slightly yellowish. Caudal rays: principal (10+8-9), procurrent (upper:8, lower: 8) Branchiostegal rays: 23-35

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Elops affinis
Family
Elopidae (Tenpounders)
Order
Elopiformes (Tarpons and Tenpounders)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
91.0
Common length
50.0
Depth range
0–8 m (0–26 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 8 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Eastern Pacific: Mandalay Beach, southern California, USA to Peru, including the Gulf of California.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes

Sources

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

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