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Smallscale silverside (Odontesthes incisa) — Atherinopsidae

Smallscale silverside

Odontesthes incisa

The Smallscale silverside (Odontesthes incisa) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Atherinopsidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
South America: Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Smallscale silverside is a silverside (Atherinopsidae) from coastal and brackish water of the southwest Atlantic, off South America. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a slender, silvery body with a glossy lengthwise band. As a schooling fish it swims in great numbers near the surface of coastal water and estuaries and eats small zooplankton. It is a bait and food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Smallscale silverside?

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

Where does the Smallscale silverside live?

The Smallscale silverside lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. South America: Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay

How big does the Smallscale silverside get?

The Smallscale silverside grows to a maximum of about 10 cm. On average the species is around 10 cm.

Is the Smallscale silverside dangerous to humans?

No, the Smallscale 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.

Is the Smallscale silverside edible?

Yes, the Smallscale silverside is commonly eaten.

More photos

Smallscale silverside (Odontesthes incisa) — Atherinopsidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Cecilia C. Morgan, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA))
Smallscale silverside (Odontesthes incisa) — Atherinopsidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — CHUCAO (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Smallscale silverside (Odontesthes incisa) — Atherinopsidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Lucila Boasso, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Smallscale silverside (Odontesthes incisa) — Atherinopsidae — 5
Lucila Boasso (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Smallscale silverside sourced
Scientific name
Odontesthes incisa
Family
Atherinopsidae
Other names
Silverside sourced

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
South America: Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay 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

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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 Odontesthes

More from the family Atherinopsidae

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