Species: Melanorhinus microps, Querimana Silverside

Melanorhinus microps (Poey, 1860)

Querimana Silverside

Body relatively deep; abdomen rounded in cross section, not compressed into a keel; forehead profile slightly convex; mouth short, top jaw extendible, premaxilla with rear end greatly expanded, without expanded bony process above its center; dorsal rays VI-IX + 15-19; origin of 1st dorsal well before anal origin; pectorals inserted high on body, above mid-level of eye, fin short, reaching slightly beyond base of pelvic fins; pelvic origin much nearer pectoral base than anal fin; scales with ruffled edges on back, slightly ruffled edges to smooth on sides; large scales at insertions of pectorals and pelvics; dorsal and anal fins with well developed 1-scale-wide sheaths.

Dark blue on back and upper sides, silvery on lower half of sides and belly; tail base dark, this color extending onto base of tail fin, sometimes as a dark bar; no silver stripe.

Size: attains 9.3 cm.

Habitat: a pelagic coastal species that forms aggregations.

Depth: 0-17 m.

The Bahamas to the S Caribbean.