Brevoortia gunteri Hildebrand, 1948
Finescale menhaden
photo by McDonald, D.L.

Family:  Alosidae (Shads and Sardines)
Max. size:  30 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 50 m
Distribution:  Western Central Atlantic: Gulf of Mexico (Chandeleur Sound, Louisiana, to the Gulf of Campeche, Mexico) but no certain records from Caribbean. Also Yucatan (Ref. 26938).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0. Scutes apparent along belly. Upper jaw with distinct median notch. Pelvic fin with oblique and almost straight hind margin, the inner fin rays markedly shorter than outer fin rays when fin folded back. Pre-dorsal scales modified; scales small and numerous, those on back and above base of anal fin markedly smaller than rest. A black spot behind gill opening, but none along flank (Ref. 188). Fins dusky to yellow (Ref. 7251).
Biology:  Schooling in inshore waters, including bays (possibly euryhaline). Feeds on plankton. No data on breeding (Ref. 188). Spawns during winter and possibly during early spring (Ref. 37032).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 July 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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