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Commerson's glassy (Ambassis ambassis) — Ambassidae

Commerson's glassy

Ambassis ambassis
Family: Ambassidae
LC · Least Concern

The Commerson's glassy (Ambassis ambassis) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Ambassidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific and East Africa; estuaries and coastal waters.
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The longspine glassfish is a glassfish (Ambassidae) from the Indo-West Pacific and the coastal waters of East Africa. The species is small and has a translucent, silvery body through which the spine and organs are visible, and relatively long dorsal fin spines. It lives in schools in estuaries and coastal waters and tolerates fresh water at temperatures between about 7 and 32 degrees. It feeds on small zooplankton and small crustaceans. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Commerson's glassy?

The Commerson's glassy has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Translucent body with a visible spine; schooling glassfish of estuaries.

Where does the Commerson's glassy live?

The Commerson's glassy lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Indo-West Pacific and East Africa; estuaries and coastal waters.

How big does the Commerson's glassy get?

The Commerson's glassy grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Commerson's glassy dangerous to humans?

No, the Commerson's glassy is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Commerson's glassy edible?

The Commerson's glassy is rarely eaten.

More photos

Commerson's glassy (Ambassis ambassis) — Ambassidae — 2
Trevor Harrison (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Commerson's glassy (Ambassis ambassis) — Ambassidae — 3
Trevor Harrison (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Commerson's glassy (Ambassis ambassis) — Ambassidae — 4
Trevor Harrison (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Commerson's glassy (Ambassis ambassis) — Ambassidae — 5
Trevor Harrison (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB

Want the complete picture on the Commerson's glassy?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Commerson's glassy is one of 12,519 species in the app.

All data

Identification

English name
Commerson's glassy verified
Scientific name
Ambassis ambassis
Family
Ambassidae
Other names
Commerson's glassy; Commerson's glassy perchlet; Commerson's perchlet; Longspine glassy; Common glassfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey
Pattern
Plain
Tail shape
Forked
Mouth position
Terminal
Lips
Thin
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific and East Africa; estuaries and coastal waters.
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small zooplankton and small crustaceans 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
Translucent body with a visible spine; schooling glassfish of estuaries. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish.
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 Ambassis

More from the family Ambassidae

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