Home · Elopidae · Ladyfish
Ladyfish (Elops affinis) — Elopidae

Ladyfish

Elops affinis
Family: Elopidae
DD · Data Deficient

The Ladyfish (Elops affinis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Elopidae that grows up to 91 cm.

Length
91 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0.0–10.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The Pacific ladyfish is a fish of the tenpounder family (Elopidae) from the eastern Pacific. The species has an elongate, silvery, streamlined body with a deeply forked tail and a terminal mouth. It lives in schools in shallow coastal waters and enters lagoons and estuaries. As a predator it hunts fishes and shrimps. Reproduction probably occurs in the open sea, with a transparent, ribbon-shaped larva (leptocephalus). It is a popular sport fish but bony. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Ladyfish?

The Ladyfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Ladyfish live?

The Ladyfish lives in brackish water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Ladyfish get?

The Ladyfish grows to a maximum of about 91 cm. On average the species is around 50 cm.

Is the Ladyfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Ladyfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Ladyfish edible?

The Ladyfish is rarely eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Pacifische tarpoenharing sourced
English name
Ladyfish verified
Scientific name
Elops affinis
Family
Elopidae
Other names
Ladyfish; Machete; Pacific ladyfish; Tenpounder verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
91.0 verified
Average length (cm)
50.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
10.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Large groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Wordt met hengel en werpaas in kustwateren en estuaria bevist. sourced
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 Elops

More from the family Elopidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →