Animalia Life

Iso rhothophilus
FAMILY
Notocheiridae
TAXONOMY
Tropidostethus rhothophilus Ogilby, 1895, Maroubra Bay, N.S.W., Australia.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Surf sardine; French: Surfette commune; Spanish: Rompeolas.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Grows to 2.95 in (7.5 cm) maximum length. Small, laterally compressed fish with a blunt head and a notch in the dorsal portion of the opercle. Body is deepest around the pectoral fin base, strongly tapering posteriorly and with an abdominal keel. Scales are small, deciduous, and absent anteriorly. Coloration is translucent, with a wide, silvery midlateral band.
DISTRIBUTION
Known from eastern Australia and Taiwan, though likely found throughout Indo-West Pacific.
HABITAT
Typically, rough surf along sandy or rocky coastline; infrequently in estuaries.
BEHAVIOR
Schools in highly oxygenated surf-zone regions around rocky outcroppings or along beaches. Very delicate; does not survive handling.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Likely feeds on zooplankton.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Little is known.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Rarely caught; not a fish of commercial importance.

Other popular Animals