Description

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Dorsal spines (total): 6 - 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 15; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 15 - 18. Body silvery and translucent with a midlateral band; dusky upper surface (Ref. 4125).

Common Names

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Kaapse spierinkie , Afrikaans , Namibia

Kaapse spierinkie , Afrikaans , South Africa

Kap-stribefisk , Danish , Denmark

Cape silverside , English , Namibia

Cape silverside , English , South Africa

Cape silverside , English , Global

Athérine du Cap , French , France

Athérine du Cap , French , Global

短头真银汉鱼 , Mandarin Chinese , China

短頭真銀漢魚 , Mandarin Chinese , China

Rei de Cabo , Portuguese , Mozambique

Pejerrey del Cabo , Spanish , Spain

Taxonomic Hierarchy

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Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Atheriniformes

Family: Atherinidae

Genus: Atherina

Species: Atherina breviceps Valenciennes, 1835

Climate Zone

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Subtropical

Location

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Southeast Atlantic: restricted from Lüderitz, Namibia to northern Natal, South Africa.

Biology

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Forms schools along the coast and in estuaries, especially during spring (Ref. 3302). Also found in coastal lakes (Ref. 7248). 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 (Ref. 7248).

Habitat

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freshwater