Picture by Chad Thomas, Texas State University-San Marcos

Elops saurus

ladyfish

Type Locality

No information at this time.

Etymology/Derivation of Scientific Name

No information at this time.

Synonymy

No information at this time.

Characters

Maximum size:  No information at this time.

Coloration: No information at this time.

Teeth count: No information at this time.

Counts: Anal fin soft rays 13-18 (Ross 2001). 21-25 dorsal fin soft rays, SC 103-120 (Hoese and Moore 1977).

Body shape: Body long, rounded in cross section (Ross 2001).

Mouth position: Terminal (Hubbs et al. 1991) Psuedobranch well developed (Ross 2001).

Distribution (Native and Introduced)

U.S. distribution: Coastal inhabitant occurring throughout the Gulf of Mexico to Brazil (Hubbs et al 1991)

Texas distribution: Inhabits most of the bays and estuaries of the state; specimens also found in the lower reaches of coastal streams (Hubbs et al. 1991)

Abundance/Conservation status (Federal, State, Non-governmental organizations)

No information at this time.

Habitat Associations

Macrohabitat: No information at this time.

Mesohabitat: No information at this time.

Biology

Spawning season: No information at this time.

Spawning location: No information at this time.

Reproductive strategy: No information at this time.

Fecundity: No information at this time.

Age at maturation: No information at this time.

Migration:  No information at this time.

Longevity: No information at this time.

Food habits:  No information at this time.

Growth: No information at this time.

Phylogeny and morphologically similar fishes

The ladyfish is a member of Elopidae, a primitive family of bony fishes, along with the tarpon.  Both of these fish produce elongate, transparent larva called leptacephalus, a larval type that is characteristic of eels, indicating a close relationship between these otherwise dissimilar fishes (Hildebrand 1963).

Host Records

 No information at this time.

Commercial or Environmental Importance

 No information at this time.

References

Hubbs, C., R. J. Edwards, and G. P. Garrett. 1991. An annotated checklist of the freshwater fishes of Texas, with keys to identification of species. Texas Journal of Science, Supplement 43(4):1-56.

Ross, S. T. 2001. The Inland Fishes of Mississippi. University Press of Mississippi 624 pp.

Hoese, H. D. and R. H. Moore. 1977. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico: Texas, Louisiana, and Adjacent Waters. Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 327 pp.

Hildebrand, S. F. 1963. Families Elopidae and Albulidae. In: Fishes of the western North Atlantic. Sears Fount. Mar. Res. Mem. no. 1, pt. 3, pp. 11-147.