Hypoatherina lunata Sasaki & Kimura, 2012
Okinawan silverside

Family:  Atherinidae (Silversides), subfamily: Atherinomorinae
Max. size:  6.4 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Japan and Indonesia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 5-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 10-12; Vertebrae: 38-43. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: premaxillary ascending process long and slender, widest point at the distal half; maxilla curved downward posteriorly with a rounded posterodorsal edge; anus located slightly anterior to appressed tip of pelvic fin (holotype and 35 paratypes) or just at the appressed tip (12 paratypes) (distance between pelvic-fin insertion and anus ca. four-fifths of pelvic-fin length or longer); with a distinct black crescent marking in front of eye in preserved specimens; eye large with diameter 9.5-11.9 % SL or 36-44 % HL; interorbital somewhat wide, width 9.8-11.8 % SL or 36-43 % HL; posterior margin of lateral and predorsal scales entire; no distinct projection on posterior margin of axillary scale (Ref. 92894).
Biology:  Usually found along the open coast or sometimes in the inner parts of bays (Ref. 92894).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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