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Chagres silverside (Atherinella chagresi) — Atherinopsidae

Chagres silverside

Atherinella chagresi

The Chagres silverside (Atherinella chagresi) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Atherinopsidae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
9 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
North America: Costa Rica, Panama

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Description

The Chagres silverside is a silverside (Atherinidae) from shallow coastal, brackish or fresh water of fresh and brackish water of Panama and nearby. The species has a slender, semi-translucent, silvery body with a shiny silver flank band and large eyes. As a schooling fish it swims in large groups near the surface and snaps at small zooplankton and insect larvae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Chagres silverside?

The Chagres silverside has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Chagres silverside live?

The Chagres silverside lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around open water. North America: Costa Rica, Panama

How big does the Chagres silverside get?

The Chagres silverside grows to a maximum of about 9 cm.

Is the Chagres silverside dangerous to humans?

No, the Chagres 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.

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All data

Identification

English name
Chagres silverside sourced
Scientific name
Atherinella chagresi
Family
Atherinopsidae

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Natural range
North America: Costa Rica, Panama 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 Atherinella

More from the family Atherinopsidae

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