Elops smithi McBride, Rocha, Ruiz-Carus & Bowen, 2010
Malacho

Family:  Elopidae (Tenpounders)
Max. size:  44 cm (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; brackish; marine
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: coasts of the Americas, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean islands.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-27; Anal soft rays: 16-19; Vertebrae: 73-80. This species is distinguished from Elops saurus in the number of vertebrae 73-80 but usually 75-78 vs. 79-87, often 81-85, respectively (vs. E. senegalensis 67, E. machnata 63-64, and E. hawaiensis 68-70). This species has a lower gill raker count , 10-15 on lower limb of the first arch (vs. E. affinis 16-20 and E. lacerta 17-19) (Ref. 83481).
Biology:  Occurs in a wide range of salinities; mature adults and early-life history stages in offshore marine habitats and where spawning is presumed to occur; and transforming larvae and subadults in estuaries, as far up as the oligohaline zone, as well as hypersaline lagoons (Ref. 83481).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 30 March 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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