''Atherion'' is a small
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...
of
silversides, known as the pricklenose silversides. It is the only genus in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Atherionidae.
Other authorities classify this as a
monogeneric subfamily, Atherioninae, of the
Atherinidae
The Old World silversides are a family, Atherinidae, of fish in the order Atheriniformes. Atherinidae are abundant and considered bony fish (teleost) that are widespread globally, living in rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters. They occur worldw ...
, while others include it within the subfamily
Atherinomorinae
''Atherinomorinae'' is a subfamily of silversides from the family, Atherinidae, the Old World silversides.
Genera
The subfamily contains the following genera:
* '' Alepidomus'' C. L. Hubbs, 1944 (monotypic)
* '' Atherinomorus'' Fowler, 1903 ( ...
.
They have an
Indo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific is a vast biogeographic region of Earth.
In a narrow sense, sometimes known as the Indo-West Pacific or Indo-Pacific Asia, it comprises the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the ...
distribution.
[
]
Characteristics
The species within ''Atherion'' are characterised by having rough, sharkskin-like denticles around the mouth and in other places on the head. The origin of the first dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the back of most marine and freshwater vertebrates within various taxa of the animal kingdom. Many species of animals possessing dorsal fins are not particularly closely related to each other, though through c ...
is to the rear of the pelvic fin
Pelvic fins or ventral fins are paired fins located on the ventral surface of fish. The paired pelvic fins are homologous to the hindlimbs of tetrapods.
Structure and function Structure
In actinopterygians, the pelvic fin consists of two e ...
tip. The first dorsal fin has 3–6 spines while the second dorsal fin has a single spine and 8–13 soft rays. The anal fin
Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as s ...
also has a single spine and has 13–17 soft rays. Along the midlateral line they have a count of between 40 and 44 scales and they are small fish which grow to a maximum length of .[
]
Species
The currently recognized species in this genus are:
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q138168
Atheriniformes