Home · Argentinidae · Argentine
Argentine (Argentina euchus) — Argentinidae

Argentine

Argentina euchus
Family: Argentinidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Argentine (Argentina euchus) is a saltwater fish of the family Argentinidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0–590.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Indian Ocean
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Argentine?

Get the app

Description

The Kenyan argentine is a deep-sea fish from the western Indian Ocean, from Kenya to Natal in South Africa. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a slender, silvery body with large eyes and a small mouth, characteristic of the argentines. As a near-bottom deep-sea dweller it lives to about 590 metres depth and is rarely observed. The fish is harmless to humans and has not been evaluated by the IUCN (NE).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Argentine?

The Argentine has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Slender silvery deep-sea body with large eyes

Where does the Argentine live?

The Argentine lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Western Indian Ocean

How big does the Argentine get?

The Argentine grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Argentine dangerous to humans?

No, the Argentine 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.

Is the Argentine edible?

The Argentine is not usually eaten.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Argentine?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Argentine is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Argentine verified
Scientific name
Argentina euchus
Family
Argentinidae
Other names
Herring smelt sourced

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Max depth (m)
590.0 verified
Natural range
Western Indian Ocean verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small zooplankton inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Rare deep-sea dweller; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Slender silvery deep-sea body with large eyes sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
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 Argentina

More from the family Argentinidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Argentine?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Argentine is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Argentine? Get the app