Elops senegalensis Regan, 1909
Senegalese ladyfish
photo by Wirtz, P.

Family:  Elopidae (Tenpounders)
Max. size:  90 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 5,900.0 g
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; brackish; marine; depth range - 50 m,
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: West African coast from Mauritania to the Democratic Republic of Congo (Ref. 2844, 4445, 81265). It is often confused with Elops lacerta (Ref. 81265).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0. Diagnosis: Elops senegalensis is often confused with Elops lacerta, from which it is distinguished by a smaller number of gill-rakers on the lower limb of the first gill arch, being 11-15 vs. 17-19; and a greater number of small scales in the lateral line, 92-100 vs. 72-83 in E. lacerta (Ref. 2844, 81265). Description: Spindle-shaped fish, oval in cross-section (Ref. 81265). Eyes large, partially covered by an adipose eyelid; mouth terminal, gape wide, the upper jaw extending distinctly beyond hind margin of eye; lower jaw slightly prominent, with a bony gular plate placed ventrally between its two branches (Ref. 81265). All fins spineless; a single dorsal fin positioned at about mid-length of body, its long base enclosed in a scaly sheath; pectoral fins set low on sides, pelvics abdominal; both paired fins with a scaly axillary process above their bases; caudal fin deeply forked (Ref. 81265). Colouration: The colour of this species is the same as in Elops lacerta (Ref. 2844, 81265).
Biology:  Coastal pelagic species, occurring inshore and some way up the tidal rivers to the edge of the shelf (Ref. 4445). Feeds on fish and shrimps (Ref. 28587).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 30 November 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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