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Broad-banded hardyhead (Atherinomorus lacunosus) — Atherinidae

Broad-banded hardyhead

Atherinomorus lacunosus
Family: Atherinidae
LC · Least Concern

The Broad-banded hardyhead (Atherinomorus lacunosus) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Atherinidae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Depth
1.0–39.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

Atherinomorus lacunosus is a silverside of the family Atherinidae from coastal waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The species has a slender, translucent silvery body with a broad, shining silver lateral stripe and reaches about 25 cm. It is common in large schools along sandy shores and reef margins and is mainly nocturnal, when the schools disperse to forage. The diet consists of various planktonic crustaceans. The species is an important prey for sharks, tunas and other predators and is fished locally and used as bait.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Broad-banded hardyhead?

The Broad-banded hardyhead has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Broad-banded hardyhead live?

The Broad-banded hardyhead lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Broad-banded hardyhead get?

The Broad-banded hardyhead grows to a maximum of about 25 cm.

Is the Broad-banded hardyhead dangerous to humans?

No, the Broad-banded hardyhead is harmless to humans.

Is the Broad-banded hardyhead edible?

Yes, the Broad-banded hardyhead is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Breedband-koornaarvis sourced
English name
Broad-banded hardyhead verified
Scientific name
Atherinomorus lacunosus
Family
Atherinidae
Other names
Broad-banded silverside; Capricorn hardyhead; Hardyhead; Hardyhead silverside verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
25.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Horizontal stripes inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
39.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Atherinomorus

More from the family Atherinidae

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