Atherinomorus lacunosus (Forster, 1801)
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 5 - 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 12 - 17; Vertebrae: 43 - 44. This species is distinguished by the following characters: lateral process of premaxilla very low and wide; upper margin of the dentary almost flat distally, no distinct tubercle at the posterior end; posterior tip of the upper jaw reaching to or beyond a vertical through anterior margin of the pupil, sometimes reaching to the center of pupil; small teeth on endopterygoids, not forming obvious ridges; the anus is near or usually behind the posterior tip of the pelvic fin; lower gill rakers 18-24; midlateral scale count 40-44; lower margin of midlateral band reaching below ventral end of the midlateral (third) scale row and reaching to almost the center of the fourth scale row at level of the anal fin origin (Ref. 58474).
Common Names
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Teleostei
Order: Atheriniformes
Family: Atherinidae
Genus: Atherinomorus
Species: Atherinomorus lacunosus (Forster, 1801)
Climate Zone
Location
Biology
Common in large schools along sandy shorelines and reef margins. Reported to be mainly a nocturnal species which usually forms schools (from several hundred to more than 100 m long and 20 m wide) (Ref. 9760). Feeds mostly at night when the school disperse. Feeds on a variety of planktonic crustaceans. Preyed upon by sharks, tunas, long toms, and amberjacks which swim alongside the school. Among its other predators are crested terns, gannets, sea-gulls and herons. Slow moving and not well regarded as bait. Extremely important as forage fish for larger species (Ref. 3302). Sold fresh, or salted and dried (Ref. 12484). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 57178.
Habitat
freshwater