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Brazilian silverside (Atherinella brasiliensis) — Atherinopsidae

Brazilian silverside

Atherinella brasiliensis
LC · Least Concern

The Brazilian silverside (Atherinella brasiliensis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Atherinopsidae that grows up to 18 cm.

Length
17.7 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Atlantic; brackish and hypersaline coastal lagoons.
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The Brazilian silverside is a silverside (Atherinopsidae) from the western Atlantic Ocean. The species is slender and silvery with a shiny silver lengthwise band. It lives over soft bottoms in brackish and hypersaline coastal lagoons and protected parts of the coast, and forms large schools. At and near the surface it feeds on small zooplankton, small invertebrates and algae. It is an important prey fish. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Brazilian silverside?

The Brazilian silverside has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern. Glossy silvery longitudinal band; small schooling fish of brackish and hypersaline coastal lagoons.

Where does the Brazilian silverside live?

The Brazilian silverside lives in brackish water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Western Atlantic; brackish and hypersaline coastal lagoons.

How big does the Brazilian silverside get?

The Brazilian silverside grows to a maximum of about 18 cm. On average the species is around 12 cm.

Is the Brazilian silverside dangerous to humans?

No, the Brazilian silverside is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Brazilian silverside edible?

The Brazilian silverside is rarely eaten.

More photos

Brazilian silverside (Atherinella brasiliensis) — Atherinopsidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Caio Henrique Cutrim, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Brazilian silverside (Atherinella brasiliensis) — Atherinopsidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Claudio Martins de Souza, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Brazilian silverside (Atherinella brasiliensis) — Atherinopsidae — 4
iNaturalist (no rights reserved)
Brazilian silverside (Atherinella brasiliensis) — Atherinopsidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Hugo Vinicius de Sousa Albuquerque Filho, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

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All data

Identification

English name
Brazilian silverside verified
Scientific name
Atherinella brasiliensis
Family
Atherinopsidae
Other names
Brazilian silversides; Silverside verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
Western Atlantic; brackish and hypersaline coastal lagoons.
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small zooplankton, small invertebrates and algae sourced
Social behaviour
Large groups
Territorial
No
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.
Special features
Glossy silvery longitudinal band; small schooling fish of brackish and hypersaline coastal lagoons. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Atherinella

More from the family Atherinopsidae

Want the complete picture on the Brazilian silverside?

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