Pacific ladyfish (Elops affinis) fish species and information / pictures of Pacific ladyfish - Elops affinis

Pacific ladyfish (Elops affinis) fish species information

Scientific Name
Elops affinis

Common Name
Pacific ladyfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-27; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 18; Vertebrae: 78 - 82. Body slender and elongate; mouth large and terminal; bony plate present between branches of lower jaw; branchiostegal rays very numerous (25 to 35); fins lacking spines; lower branch of first gill arch with 16 to 20 gill rakers; scales very small, 100 to 120 in the lateral line; back dark blue-green to light brown; flanks silvery with slight yellow highlights; fins slightly yellowish (ref. 55763). Caudal rays: principal (10+8-9), procurrent (upper:8, lower: 8) Branchiostegal rays: 23-35

Classification

Classified By

Regan, 1909

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Tarpons and Tenpounders (Elopiformes)

Family

Tenpounders (Elopidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Pacific

Distribution

Eastern Pacific: Mandalay Beach, southern California, USA to Peru, including the Gulf of California.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

8 m

Zone

pelagic-neritic

Environment

Marine; brackish; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 8 m (Ref. 5227)

Trophic Level

4.05 s.e. 0.70 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

91.0 cm

Common Length

50.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5176 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (48 of 100)

Resilience

Unknown

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)