Home · Stromateidae · Southern silver pomfret
Southern silver pomfret (Stromateus stellatus) — Stromateidae

Southern silver pomfret

Stromateus stellatus
Family: Stromateidae
LC · Least Concern

The Southern silver pomfret (Stromateus stellatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Stromateidae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25.1 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–200.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Southeast Pacific
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Southern silver pomfret?

Get the app

Description

The southern silver pomfret is a pelagic fish from the southeast Pacific, along the coast of Peru and Chile. The species grows to about 25 cm and has a deep, oval, laterally compressed, silvery body without pelvic fins and with fine dark speckling. It forms schools in coastal water and feeds on small zooplankton and jellyfish. It is a valued food fish. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Southern silver pomfret?

The Southern silver pomfret has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a spots pattern. Deep oval body without pelvic fins; schooling pelagic butterfish

Where does the Southern silver pomfret live?

The Southern silver pomfret lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Southeast Pacific

How big does the Southern silver pomfret get?

The Southern silver pomfret grows to a maximum of about 25 cm.

Is the Southern silver pomfret dangerous to humans?

No, the Southern silver pomfret 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 Southern silver pomfret edible?

Yes, the Southern silver pomfret is commonly eaten.

More photos

Southern silver pomfret (Stromateus stellatus) — Stromateidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) smithsonian_marinegeo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA))
Southern silver pomfret (Stromateus stellatus) — Stromateidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) José Ignacio, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Southern silver pomfret (Stromateus stellatus) — Stromateidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Juan A. Malo de Molina (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Southern silver pomfret (Stromateus stellatus) — Stromateidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Daniel Stange, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Southern silver pomfret?

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

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Southern silver pomfret verified
Scientific name
Stromateus stellatus
Family
Stromateidae
Other names
Starry butterfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
25.1 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Spots 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
Mixed bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
200.0 verified
Natural range
Southeast Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small zooplankton and jellyfish inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Schooling coastal butterfish; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Deep oval body without pelvic fins; schooling pelagic butterfish sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. 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 Stromateus

More from the family Stromateidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Southern silver pomfret?

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

Get the app →
Is this the Southern silver pomfret? Get the app