Atlantic thread herring

Atlantic Thread Herring (Opisthonema oglinum) is a species of herring found in the Atlantic Ocean. It is commonly known as the thread herring due to its distinctive thread-like filament that extends from the dorsal fin.

Description

The Atlantic Thread Herring is a small, silvery fish with a bluish-green back and a deeply forked tail. The most distinctive feature of this species is the long, thread-like filament that extends from the posterior of the dorsal fin. This filament can be as long as the body of the fish itself.

Distribution and Habitat

The Atlantic Thread Herring is found in the western Atlantic Ocean, from Massachusetts to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. It is a pelagic species that prefers warm, tropical and subtropical waters.

Diet

The diet of the Atlantic Thread Herring primarily consists of plankton, small crustaceans, and other tiny marine organisms. They are filter feeders, using their gill rakers to strain food particles from the water.

Commercial Importance

Atlantic Thread Herring is an important species for commercial and subsistence fisheries throughout its range. It is often used as bait for larger game fish, and is also canned and sold for human consumption.

Conservation Status

The Atlantic Thread Herring is not currently considered to be at risk of extinction. However, like all marine species, it is potentially threatened by overfishing and habitat degradation.

See Also

• Herring
• Atlantic Ocean
• Fisheries