Menidia menidia (Linnaeus, 1766)
Atlantic silverside
photo by Eakins, R.

Family:  Atherinopsidae (Neotropical silversides), subfamily: Menidiinae
Max. size:  15 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 2 years
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 3 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada to northeastern Florida in USA.
Diagnosis:  Anal soft rays: 23-26
Biology:  Adults feed on copepods, mysids, shrimps, small squids and marine worms (Ref. 7251); also eggs of their own species (Ref. 5951). Preyed upon by striped bass (Ref. 7251) and bluefish (chief predators) (Ref. 5951). Oviparous, eggs are deposited on the substrate during a spawning run along the shore (Ref. 38155). Silversides are sometimes used as live food for trout (Ref. 7251).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 January 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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