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Estuarine hardyhead (Craterocephalus honoriae) — Atherinidae

Estuarine hardyhead

Craterocephalus honoriae
Family: Atherinidae
LC · Least Concern

The Estuarine hardyhead (Craterocephalus honoriae) is a brackish-water fish of the family Atherinidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
7 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The estuarine hardyhead is a small silverside from fresh and brackish water of eastern and northern Australia. The species grows to about 7 cm and has a slender, translucent silvery body with a shiny lateral stripe. It schools in river mouths, coastal lagoons and estuaries and tolerates strongly varying salinity. It feeds on small zooplankton, insect larvae and algae. The fish is harmless to humans and has no commercial value. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Estuarine hardyhead?

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

Where does the Estuarine hardyhead live?

The Estuarine hardyhead lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Estuarine hardyhead get?

The Estuarine hardyhead grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Estuarine hardyhead dangerous to humans?

No, the Estuarine hardyhead is harmless to humans.

Is the Estuarine hardyhead edible?

The Estuarine hardyhead is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Estuarium-koornaarvis verified
English name
Estuarine hardyhead verified
Scientific name
Craterocephalus honoriae
Family
Atherinidae
Other names
Estuarine hardyhead verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. 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 Craterocephalus

More from the family Atherinidae

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