Jack Silverside
Atherinopsis californiensis
- Least concern
- Card rarity: Common
- Fish
Atherinopsis californiensis, the jack silverside or jacksmelt, is a species of neotropical silverside native to the Pacific coast of North America from Oregon, United States to southern Baja California, Mexico. This species often grows to 49 cm, but specimens of 55 cm (22 in) in total length have been reported. It is silver throughout the body, with a grey dorsal pattern, and a light silver ventral-lateral, as well as a yellow spot present behind the eye, on the operculum. and is important commercially as a source of human food. It is the only known member of its genus. They are commonly confused with the Atherinops affinis, the topsmelt silverside.
Classification
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Atheriniformes
- Family
- Atherinopsidae
- Genus
- Atherinopsis