Brevoortia

Brevoortia is a genus of clupeid fish, commonly known as menhaden. They are small, silvery fish with a deep, compressed body. Menhaden are an important part of the marine ecosystem, serving as a food source for larger fish, birds, and marine mammals. They are also commercially valuable, with their oil and meal used in a variety of products.

Common Names

Members of the genus Brevoortia are commonly called menhaden, but they are also known by a variety of other names depending on location and species. Some of the most common names include:

  • Atlantic menhaden
  • Bay anchovy
  • Bunker
  • Mossbunker
  • Pogey
  • Fatback

Characteristics

Brevoortia species are characterized by the following features:

  • Small size, typically ranging from 15 to 40 cm in length
  • Silvery body with a deep, compressed shape
  • Small, weak mouth with numerous fine teeth
  • Large, forward-facing eyes
  • Single dorsal fin, located slightly behind the middle of the body
  • Two anal fins
  • Forked tail

Environment

Brevoortia species are found in coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific Ocean. They are typically found in schools in shallow, inshore waters, often near estuaries and bays. They are filter feeders, feeding on plankton and other small organisms in the water column.

References

For more information about Brevoortia, please refer to the following resources: