Diagnostic Description
provided by Fishbase
Scales small, more than 100 in lateral line. Gular plate narrow (Ref. 26938). Silvery overall, with bluish on upper surface (Ref. 7251). Branchiostegal rays: 26-33 (Ref. 4639).
- Recorder
- Cristina V. Garilao
Life Cycle
provided by Fishbase
Spawns offshore, the larvae drifting towards the coast where they shelter and grow (Ref. 9987). Leptocephalus larvae are found in salinities as low as 0.0+ to 0.8 ppt (Ref. 75142).
Migration
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Amphidromous. Refers to fishes that regularly migrate between freshwater and the sea (in both directions), but not for the purpose of breeding, as in anadromous and catadromous species. Sub-division of diadromous. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.Characteristic elements in amphidromy are: reproduction in fresh water, passage to sea by newly hatched larvae, a period of feeding and growing at sea usually a few months long, return to fresh water of well-grown juveniles, a further period of feeding and growing in fresh water, followed by reproduction there (Ref. 82692).
Morphology
provided by Fishbase
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25 - 29; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 16 - 19; Vertebrae: 73 - 85
- Recorder
- Cristina V. Garilao
Trophic Strategy
provided by Fishbase
Occur in shallow neritic areas, over muddy bottoms (Ref. 5217). Also found in brackish estuaries and juveniles are common in lagoons and hyper-saline bays (Ref. 5217) and coral reefs (Ref. 58534). Form large schools close to the shore (Ref. 9987). Feed mainly on crustaceans and small fishes.
Biology
provided by Fishbase
Occur in shallow neritic areas, over muddy bottoms (Ref. 5217). Also found in brackish estuaries and juveniles are common in lagoons and hyper-saline bays (Ref. 5217). Form large schools close to the shore (Ref. 9987). Feed mainly on crustaceans and small fishes. Spawn in the open sea (Ref. 5217). Larval development is represented by profound changes in body form accompanied by 2 periods of length increase, interspaced by a period of length decrease (Ref. 4639). Noted for their habit of skipping along the surface of the water and for jumping after being hooked (Ref. 5521). Marketed fresh, salted and frozen but considered a second rate food fish (Ref. 3718). Rhynchobothrium bulbifer found in the viscera of the adult (Ref. 37032).
Importance
provided by Fishbase
fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; bait: usually; price category: low; price reliability: reliable: based on ex-vessel price for this species
Elops saurus
provided by wikipedia EN
The ladyfish or tenpounder (Elops saurus) is a species of fish in the genus Elops, the only genus in the monotypic family Elopidae.
Description
Ladyfish
Elops saurus, Fort Desoto County Park, Tampa Bay, November 2016
Like other species in its genus, the ladyfish has a long, slender, rounded body covered with silvery scales. Its mouth is terminal and the tail is deeply forked. The species can be distinguished by counting the number of gill rakers and vertebrae.[3]
Distribution
The ladyfish is distributed in the western North Atlantic Ocean from New England to Florida, and the Gulf of Mexico.[3] Its distribution overlaps with the malacho (Elops smithi) in the southeast US and the southern Gulf of Mexico.[4]
Biology
Like other members of the Elopidae, the ladyfish is a pelagic fish that spawns in the sea, but little is known about this marine phase. The larvae, which are transparent and laterally compressed, are dispersed inshore and enter embayments, where they live for 2 to 3 yr.[4][5] The juveniles are euryhaline, or tolerant to a wide range of salinity, so these embayments may be low-salinity estuaries or hypersaline lagoons.[6] Subadults move into the lower reaches of the embayments, and upon maturation, proceed to offshore, marine habitats.
Threats
This species uses estuarine areas and hypersaline lagoons; changes in the quality of these habitats may affect this species' population dynamics. Although this species may not be closely associated with any single habitat, it may be adversely affected by development and urbanization.[7]
References
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^ Van Der Laan, Richard; Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ronald (11 November 2014). "Family-group names of Recent fishes". Zootaxa. 3882 (1): 1–230. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1. PMID 25543675.
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^ Froese, R.; Pauly, D. (2017). "Elopidae". FishBase version (02/2017). Retrieved 18 May 2017.
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^ a b McBride, Richard S., et al. 2010. A new species of ladyfish, of the genus Elops (Elopiformes: Elopidae), from the western Atlantic Ocean. Zootaxa. 2346: 29-41.
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^ a b McBride, Richard S. and A. Z. Horodysky. 2004. Mechanisms maintaining sympatric distributions of two ladyfish (Elopidae: Elops) morphs in the Gulf of Mexico and western North Atlantic Ocean. Limnology and Oceanography. 49(4): 1173-1181.
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^ Gehringer, J. W. 1959. Early development and metamorphosis of the ten-pounder Elops saurus Linnaeus. Fishery Bulletin. 59: 618-647.
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^ McBride, Richard S., et al. 2001. Nursery habitats for ladyfish, Elops saurus, along salinity gradients in two Florida estuaries. Fishery Bulletin. 99(3): 443-458.
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^ Adams, A. J., et al. 2013. Global conservation status and research needs for tarpons (Megalopidae), ladyfishes (Elopidae) and bonefishes (Albulidae). Fish and Fisheries. Early View (Online Version of Record published before inclusion in an issue.)
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Elops saurus: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
The ladyfish or tenpounder (Elops saurus) is a species of fish in the genus Elops, the only genus in the monotypic family Elopidae.
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- Wikipedia authors and editors
Diet
provided by World Register of Marine Species
Feed mainly on crustaceans and small fishes
North-West Atlantic Ocean species (NWARMS)
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Distribution
provided by World Register of Marine Species
Cape Cod to southern Brazil
North-West Atlantic Ocean species (NWARMS)
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Habitat
provided by World Register of Marine Species
Occur in shallow neritic areas, over muddy bottoms.
North-West Atlantic Ocean species (NWARMS)
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Habitat
provided by World Register of Marine Species
nektonic
North-West Atlantic Ocean species (NWARMS)
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