About Opisthonema oglinum (Lesueur, 1818)
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
The Atlantic thread herring, with the scientific name Opisthonema oglinum (Lesueur, 1818), is a herring-like fish that belongs to the family Clupeidae.
Appearance and Size
This species has a dark blue-gray back, silvery sides, a white belly, and a small head, and can reach a maximum length of 38 cm.
Distribution and Habitat
It inhabits shallow waters and harbors along the coasts of the western Atlantic Ocean, ranging from Cape Cod south to Brazil, and including the Gulf of Mexico.
Diet Composition
Its diet consists mainly of plankton, but it also consumes small fish and crustaceans.
Similar Species Confusion
Anglers often confuse this species with the scaled sardine, Harengula jaguana.
