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Antonia's sailfin silverside (Telmatherina antoniae) — Telmatherinidae

Antonia's sailfin silverside

Telmatherina antoniae

The Antonia's sailfin silverside (Telmatherina antoniae) is a freshwater fish of the family Telmatherinidae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
8.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Indonesia

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Description

The Antonia's sailfin silverside is a sailfin silverside (Telmatherinidae) found only in the clear lakes and rivers of Lake Matano on Sulawesi. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a slender, semi-translucent body; courting males colour up brightly with yellow, blue or black and spread their fins. As a social fish it swims in schools in clear, shallow water and snaps at small zooplankton, insect larvae and algae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Antonia's sailfin silverside?

The Antonia's sailfin silverside has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Antonia's sailfin silverside live?

The Antonia's sailfin silverside lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water. Asia: Indonesia

How big does the Antonia's sailfin silverside get?

The Antonia's sailfin silverside grows to a maximum of about 9 cm.

Is the Antonia's sailfin silverside dangerous to humans?

No, the Antonia's sailfin silverside is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Antonia's sailfin silverside (Telmatherina antoniae) — Telmatherinidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Tse Chung Yi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Antonia's sailfin silverside (Telmatherina antoniae) — Telmatherinidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Tse Chung Yi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Antonia's sailfin silverside (Telmatherina antoniae) — Telmatherinidae — 4
Tse Chung Yi (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Antonia's sailfin silverside (Telmatherina antoniae) — Telmatherinidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Tse Chung Yi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Antonia's sailfin silverside sourced
Scientific name
Telmatherina antoniae
Family
Telmatherinidae
Other names
sailfin silversides sourced

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Natural range
Asia: Indonesia sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Telmatherina

More from the family Telmatherinidae

Fin

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