Atherina hepsetus Linnaeus, 1758 Mediterranean sand smelt |
photo by
Luquet, D. |
Family: | Atherinidae (Silversides), subfamily: Atherininae | |||
Max. size: | 20 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
Environment: | pelagic-neritic; freshwater; brackish; marine | |||
Distribution: | Eastern Atlantic: coasts of Spain and Morocco including Madeira and the Canary Islands. Also in the western Mediterranean, Adriatic Sea and Black Sea. | |||
Diagnosis: | Total scales in midlateral series 59-65. Anal fin with 10-12 1/2 rays (Ref. 59043). | |||
Biology: | Littoral, often near shore. Gregarious, sometimes occurs in marine lagoons (France) and estuaries (Portugal). Feed on pelagic copepods and benthic crustaceans (Ref. 5980). | |||
IUCN Red List Status: | Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435) | |||
Threat to humans: | harmless |