Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) fish species and information / pictures of Gulf menhaden - Brevoortia patronus

Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Brevoortia patronus

Common Name
Gulf menhaden

Biology
Occur inshore in summer, but at least some moving into deeper waters from October (Mississippi Delta area). Feed in dense schools, filtering phytoplankton, but probably also feed at the bottom. Apparently breed in winter (October to February, with a peak in January). Salinity tolerance range from 0.1-60 ppt, but the commercial catch is mostly from 5.0-24 ppt. Marketed fresh, salted or canned. Mainly used as source of fish oil; also as fish meal (Ref. 188). Isopod is found in the mouth (Ref. 37032).

Classification

Classified By

Goode, 1878

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Herrings (Clupeiformes)

Family

Herrings, shads and sardines (Clupeidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Central Atlantic

Distribution

Western Central Atlantic: Gulf of Mexico (Florida Bay, Gulf of Campeche, Mexico), but no certain records from Caribbean.

Range

31°N - 19°N, 95°W - 80°W

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

50 m

Zone

pelagic-neritic

Environment

Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 0 - 50 m (Ref. 188)

Trophic Level

2.19 s.e. 0.07 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

35.0 cm

Common Length

20.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5156 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: highly commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (29 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.35-0.47)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated