Brevoortia pectinata, commonly known as the menhaden, is a species of fish belonging to the herring family, Alosidae. These fish are an integral part of the marine ecosystem, playing a crucial role in the food web. They are widely distributed along the Atlantic coast of North America, inhabiting both coastal and offshore waters.
Description & Characteristics
Brevoortia pectinata is a slender, silvery fish with a slightly compressed body. They have a distinctive, deeply forked tail fin. The dorsal fin is located slightly behind the middle of the body, and the anal fin is long and low. The average adult size of this species reaches approximately 35.0 cm in length.
Habitat and Occurrence
Brevoortia pectinata thrives in a range of marine environments, including coastal estuaries, bays, and the open ocean. They are particularly common in the neritic zone, the region extending from the shoreline to the edge of the continental shelf. This species exhibits a preference for waters with moderate salinity, making them well-suited to both coastal and offshore habitats.
Taxonomy
Brevoortia pectinata is classified within the Class: Teleostei, Order: Clupeiformes, and Family: Alosidae. This classification places them within the group of bony fish, further categorized as herring-like fishes, and specifically within the family of herrings, shads, and allies.
Feeding
Brevoortia pectinata are filter feeders, primarily consuming plankton, small crustaceans, and other microscopic organisms. They possess specialized gill rakers that act like sieves, allowing them to extract their food from the water column. This feeding strategy makes them a vital link in the marine food web, converting primary producers into a form that can be consumed by larger predators.
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