Atlantic Silverside
Menidia menidia

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.

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A school of Atlantic silverside swims at Dogwood Harbor in Tilghman Island, Md., on Sept. 1, 2015. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program) USAGE REQUEST INFORMATION The Chesapeake Bay Program's photographic archive is available for media and non-commercial use at no charge. To request permission, send an email briefly describing the proposed use to requests@chesapeakebay.net. Please do not attach jpegs. Instead, reference the corresponding Flickr URL of the image. A photo credit mentioning the Chesapeake Bay Program is mandatory. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way or used in any way that suggests approval or endorsement of the Chesapeake Bay Program. Requestors should also respect the publicity rights of individuals photographed, and seek their consent if necessary.

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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

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