Apr 1, 2016
Pejerrey or Chilean Silverside
Odontesthes regia
Odontesthes translates into tooth-eat (or perhaps tooth-feel), while regia means king or royal.
Family: Atherinopsidae (Neotropical Silversides)
Fun Fact:They swim in large schools, which increases each individual’s chance of surviving predators.
Habitat: They are endemic to pelagic and brackish waters of the Pacific Ocean off of Peru and Chile.
Ecosystem Role: “They feed primarily on the eggs of the fish, the Peruvian anchoveta (Engraulis ringens)” (Fishbase). They provide food for larger fish, sea birds, and humans.
Conservation Status: Least Concern
