Stenatherina panatela (Jordan & Richardson, 1908)
Panatella silverside
Stenatherina panatela
photo by FAO

Family:  Atherinidae (Silversides), subfamily: Atherinomorinae
Max. size:  11 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 20 m
Distribution:  Pacific Ocean: Sumatra and the northern Cook Islands, north to the Philippines, Caroline Islands, and Marshall Islands, south to Fiji.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 5-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-10; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 9-12. Vomerine teeth forming a characteristic T pattern. Ascending process of premaxilla long, extending past orbit into interorbital space; lateral process very long and pungent. Gill rakers long and slender, longer than half the diameter of pupil. Interdorsal scales 8-10. Distinct crescentic mark present on snout immediately in front of eye; upper part of midlateral band terminating as half crescent on upper lobe of caudal fin. Description: Characterized by bluish green dorsally and silvery on sides; 17-20 predorsal scales; long and slender body, depth about 6.5 in SL; widely separated dorsal fins; large eye, about 3.0 in head length; large and extremely protractile mouth; jaws, palatines, vomer and meopterygoids with small teeth (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Preferred habitat appears to be deeper enclosed atoll lagoons, reefs, coastal waters and harbors. May gather in schools at night when attracted to light but generally not found in very large numbers. May be taken as food by larger commercial species (Ref. 9760).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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