Atherion

Atherion is a genus of very small ears fish that live from South Africa to India and from southern Japan to Australia and the Fiji Islands in the coastal sea. You will also come across coral reefs just below the water surface before, rarely also in tide pools.

Features

Atherion species are 5 to 6 inches long. They are elongated, slender and silvery color. Distinctive characteristics of the genus are small thorn fields, which are located on the outside of the mouth and in some places on the head. The basis of the first, small dorsal fin located behind the tips of the pectoral fins. It is supported by three to six spines, the second, larger dorsal fin has a fin spines and 8-13 soft rays, the anal fin a sting and 13 to 17 soft rays. Along the sidelines one counts 40 to 44 scales.

Atherion are occasionally used as bait fish or fish as food for larger fish feed in aquaculture. Little is known about the lifestyle, food and reproduction. The eggs should be relatively large.

System

The genus belongs in the Old World silversides ( Atherinidae ) to the subfamily Atherinomorinae. It describes three ways:

• Atherion africanum Smith, 1965
• Atherion Elymus Jordan & Starks, 1901
• Atherion maccullochi Jordan & Hubbs, 1919