A school of Atlantic silverside swims at Dogwood Harbor in Tilghman Island, Md., on Sept. 1, 2015. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)
Atlantic silversides (Menidia menidia) swim in an aquarium. (Photo by Virginia State Parks)
Officials from across the Chesapeake Bay watershed convene for the Leadership Summit on Environmental Literacy at Phillip Merril Environmental Center in Annapolis, Md., on April 20, 2016. One of the goals of the summit was to explore how states can support high-quality environmental literacy programs as part of ongoing education reform in order to meet Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement commitments. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)
On our dive the other night, visibility was quite low, maybe 2-3' at best to begin. But by the end of the dive it went even lower as thousands of young of the year silversides, each only 3/4-1" long, swarmed around us forming solid mass of fish. The writhing mass of fish totally flumuxed the auto-focus on the camera (not hard actually) but at the same time, made it near impossible for me to keep racking focus in and out to get a good shot. Here I pulled the video light in close and focussed on the edge of the light, then lifted it a half inch, the fish filled in the space nicely and I had a pre-focused point to shoot at. A number of them turned out quite nice. Harder though was to get good clear shots of their predators, either they were moving terribly fast cutting through the mass (Adult and Juvenile Bluefish and Striped Bass) or they disappeared in or under the cloud of silversides with nothing to aim at or to focus on. Awesome, but frustrating at the same time. My dive buddy took his GF back the next night and reported that the activity was almost as heavy that evening too, his GF dove sans hood and was picking tiny sinver sides out of her hair the rest of the night.
Atlantic silversides are forage fish, meaning they are an important part of larger fish's diets, such as this summer flounder (Image credit: Erickson Smith, Flickr)
Students from Hammond High School in Columbia, Md., retrieve Atlantic silversides during a cast net activity at the Phillip Merrill Environmental Center in Annapolis, Md., on April 20, 2016. The school brings different groups of students to the center over five days as part of its commitment to environmental literacy and meaningful watershed educational experiences (MWEEs). (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)
The Atlantic silverside is a small forage fish with a silver band along either side of its body. It can be found in schools in the Bay, and is an important part of many larger fishes’ diets.
Appearance
Atlantic silversides are small fish that grow no bigger than six inches in length. They have a short head, large eyes and a small, toothless mouth. They have a slender body and rounded belly. The upper portion of their body is grayish-green in color, and their underside is translucent to white. Atlantic silversides have a metallic silver strip that runs along both of their sides, from which they get their common name.
Feeding
Silversides eat algae and small invertebrates, including crustaceans, worms, zooplankton, shrimp and insects.
Predators
Predators include large predatory fish such as bluefish, mackerel and striped bass, as well as shorebirds such as egrets, gulls and cormorants. Smaller fish like the mummichog eat their eggs and larvae.
To escape large predators, Atlantic silversides might try leaping out of the water. However, that attracts birds which are also predators. Silversides will also hide in underwater grasses or travel in large schools. Their appearance, combined with the fact that they are quick swimmers, makes them difficult to see.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Atlantic silversides breed from May to July. During a new or full moon and at the highest tide, they gather in schools to lay their eggs along the sandy bottom. Eggs hatch after five to 20 days, depending on the temperature. Temperature also determines how many will be male or female. Babies that are in cooler water 32 to 46 days after hatching will more likely be female, whereas fish that are in warmer waters will likely be male. Atlantic silversides can live to be two years old, but most die after one.
Did You Know?
- This fish is also known as spearing, shiner, minnow and baitfish.
- The Atlantic silverside is what is known as forage, or fish food, because it is an important part of a bigger fish’s diet, such as the bluefish or striped bass.
- It is one of the most common fish in the Chesapeake Bay.
- The silverside is commonly studied because it is sensitive to extreme conditions such as low oxygen, temperature change and contaminants in water.
Sources and Additional Information
- Atlantic Silverside – Encyclopedia of Life
- Habitat Restoration Portal – The University of Rhode Island Environmental Data Center
- The Key Species of New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary – New Jersey Sea Grant
- Peterson Field Guides: Atlantic Coast Fishes – C. Richards Robins, G. Carleton Ray and John Douglass
Quick Facts
Species
Native
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Habitat
Atlantic silversides prefer brackish water or salty water, but can tolerate changes in salinity. They can generally be found in dense schools along the shoreline, looking for food, or in beds of underwater grasses, hiding from predators. In the summer, they’re found along the shorelines but in winter, they swim in deeper waters to avoid low temperatures.
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Range
Atlantic silversides can be found up and down the Atlantic Coast of North America, from the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada to the northeast part of Florida.
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Diet
Algae and small aquatic invertebrates
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Lifespan
Two years
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Status
Stable
