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Japanese silverside (Hypoatherina tsurugae) — Atherinidae

Japanese silverside

Hypoatherina tsurugae
Family: Atherinidae

The Japanese silverside (Hypoatherina tsurugae) is a saltwater fish of the family Atherinidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Saltwater
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Japanese silverside is a silverside (Atherinidae) from coastal waters of the northwest Pacific, off East Asia. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a slender, translucent, silvery body with a glossy lengthwise band. As a schooling fish it swims in great numbers near the surface of coastal water and bays and eats small zooplankton. It is a bait and food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Japanese silverside?

The Japanese silverside has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Japanese silverside live?

The Japanese silverside lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Japanese silverside get?

The Japanese silverside grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Japanese silverside dangerous to humans?

No, the Japanese silverside is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Japanse koornaarvis sourced
English name
Japanese silverside sourced
Scientific name
Hypoatherina tsurugae
Family
Atherinidae
Other names
Silverside sourced

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Hypoatherina

More from the family Atherinidae

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