The pricklenose silverside (Atherion africanum) is a species of silverside from the family Atherionidae. It is found in the western Indian Ocean from India to KwaZulu Natal in South Africa. It is a prey species for many commercially caught larger fish and may be used as bait by fishermen, usually caught at depths of less than 2 metres (6.6 ft).[1] This species was described in 1965 by James Leonard Brierley Smith from a type locality of Inhaca Island, Mozambique.[2] It is distinguished from similar species of silverside within its range by the rough, shagreen-like skin around its snout.[3]
| Pricklenose silverside | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Atheriniformes |
| Family: | Atherionidae |
| Genus: | Atherion |
| Species: | A. africanum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Atherion africanum J.L.B. Smith, 1965
| |
References
edit- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Atherion africanum". FishBase. February 2019 version.
- ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Atherion africanus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- ^ Ivantsoff W. (1984). Fischer W.; Bianchi, G. (eds.). "Atherinidae" (PDF). FAO Species identification sheets for fishery purposes WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN Fishing Area 51. Food and Agriculture Organization. Retrieved 13 July 2019.