Species: Atherinomorus stipes, Hardhead Silverside

Atherinomorus stipes (Müller & Troschel in Schomburgk, 1848)

Hardhead Silverside

Elongate, body relatively deep (>20% SL); eye large (~ twice snout length); head wide (63% of head length) and relatively deep, upper profile straight; bony ridge on each side of snout; top jaw not extendable, extending back past front edge of eye, front (premaxilla) bone with rear end narrow and pointed (not expanded), and with a bony process above its center; inner rear surface of lower jaw only slightly raised; teeth small, simple, in narrow bands on jaws, center of lower lip with small, outward pointing teeth; projection at rear of lower jaw small; 1st dorsal fin IV-VI, entirely before anal origin; 2nd dorsal origin after anal origin, I, 8-10; pectoral: i,13-14; anal I, 11-13, margin concave; anus well before anal fin; scales with ruffled rear margins; 37-42 scales on lateral line; breast and throat scaled; a sheath of scales on bases of dorsal, anal and pectoral fins.

Greenish on back with silver stripe (at least ¾ height of scale under dorsal fin) overlying a black one along mid-flank, stripe narrow at front (width < ½ pectoral fin base); two series of black dots along sides of tail; tail tips often black in large fish.

Size: 10 cm.

Habitat: shallow waters over reefs and nearby soft bottoms.

Depth: 0-10 m?

The Gulf of Mexico to Argentina.