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Starks' silverside (Atherinella starksi) — Atherinopsidae

Starks' silverside

Atherinella starksi
LC · Least Concern

The Starks' silverside (Atherinella starksi) is a saltwater fish of the family Atherinopsidae that grows up to 11 cm.

Length
11 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The Starks' silverside is a silverside (Atherinopsidae) from shallow coastal, estuarine and fresh water of the Pacific coast of Central America. The species grows to about 8 cm and has a slender, translucent body with a shiny silver stripe along the flank and a slightly superior mouth. As a social schooling fish it swims in the upper layer and snaps at small zooplankton, insect larvae and algae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Starks' silverside?

The Starks' silverside has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Starks' silverside live?

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

How big does the Starks' silverside get?

The Starks' silverside grows to a maximum of about 11 cm.

Is the Starks' silverside dangerous to humans?

No, the Starks' silverside is harmless to humans.

Is the Starks' silverside edible?

The Starks' silverside is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Starks koornaarvis sourced
English name
Starks' silverside sourced
Scientific name
Atherinella starksi
Family
Atherinopsidae
Other names
Star silverside sourced

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
11.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
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 Atherinella

More from the family Atherinopsidae

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