Species: Elops affinis, Pacific machete, Pacific ladyfish

Elops affinis Regan, 1909

Pacific ladyfish, Pacific machete

Body long, slender; mouth long, opens at the front and ends past the eye; teeth small, granular, on jaws, roof of mouth, tongue and base of gill arches; gill rakers (excluding rudiments) 10-11 + 16-20; an elongate bony plate under the chin between the lower jaws; with a single dorsal fin on the middle of the back, 21-25 rays;  pelvic fins low on sides, directly under dorsal; pectorals 16-17, under the body just behind the gill openings; anal rays 14-17; tail fin strongly forked; lateral line is straight and complete; all fins without spines; scales small, ~ 100-120 on lateral line.

Generally silvery with bluish reflections; head yellowish; lower lobe of tail fin with white stripe.

Size: reaches about 91 cm.

Inhabits shallow inshore waters, particularly in bays, lagoons, and mangrove areas; enters rivers.

Depth: 0-10 m.

Southern California to northern Peru.

Closely related to E. saurus of the western Atlantic.