Longfin Silverside
Pejerrey Plateado
(Atherinella eriarcha)

Longfin Silverside, Atherinella eriarcha: The Longfin Silverside has a relatively deep body that is 20% of its length, partially silver and partially transparent. The first dorsal fin originates over the origin of the anal fin, and the anus itself is well forward, being well within the first half of the fish's body.

The Longfin Silverside has short pectoral fins and a broad silver mid-lateral band that narrows at the rear before branching into a large triangle at the tail fin base. The Longfin Silverside reaches a maximum length of 3 inches and is normally found in the first 25 feet of the water column around inshore rocky reefs. It feeds primarily on algae.

This fish species is a member of the Atherinidae Family and of the Atherinella Genus which are the Silversides. Globally there are 35 members of the Atherinella Genus of which four species are found in Mexican waters. The Silversides are small schooling fishes found inshore or over reefs. They are characterized by having two dorsal fins, the first of which only has 6 slender spines, long pectoral fins, pelvic fins with one spine and 5 rays, no lateral line, and a broad silver stripe down the side. They are preyed upon by jacks and related carnivores.

The Longfin Silverside is somewhat similar to two other Silversides found in Mexican Waters: the Broadstriped Silverside, Atherinella nesiotes (broad strip wider than the diameter of the eye); and Pilcher’s Silverside, Atherinella nepenthe (dorsal fin origin over anal fin origin, and last dorsal ray over last anal ray).

Distribution in Mexico fishing areas

It has a limited distribution in Mexican fishing waters, being absent from the Pacific side of Baja California, and found in the lower one-third of the Sea of Cortez and along the coast of the mainland south to Guatemala; they are also present around all of the oceanic islands.

Longfin Silverside fish picture 1

Longfin Silverside, Atherinella eriarcha: Photo courtesy John Snow.

Longfin Silverside fish picture 2

Longfin Silverside fish picture 3

Longfin Silverside, Atherinella eriarcha: Photo courtesy John Snow.

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