ANIMALS – FISHES – SILVERSIDES – ARGENTINIAN SILVERSIDE (ODONTESTHES BONARIENSIS)

Animals - Fishes - Silversides

Argentinian silverside (Odontesthes bonariensis)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Actinopterygii
Order : Atheriniformes
Family : Atherinopsidae
Genus : Odontesthes
Species : O. Bonariensis

Description:

The Argentinian silverside (Odontesthes bonariensis) is a species of bony fish of the family Atherinopsidae, that is found in the southern area of the Plata Basin.

It is a species found in coastal waters of southern Brazil, northern Argentina and Uruguay, in the rivers: Rio de la Plata, Rio Tercero, Parana, Uruguay, and Tramandai.

It is a fast fish slightly compressed, fusiform body, has a silvery color with two longitudinal bands darker, marked ventral curve, strong head, bone at the top, protráctil mouth; two flaps on the back (a small first with flexible radios, the second longest and flexible radio), ventral fins without spines or saws. Silver color and something shiny bluish flank stripe. The tail is fork-shaped. He lives mostly in schools.

With rapid growth, is one of the largest in adulthood; some specimens have reached 60 cm. long and 20 cm thick, and 3 kg, but the average size is smaller, 40 cm to 800 grams. Its high reproduction rate, the quality of its meat, indicate it as important for intensive and extensive crop species.

Binomial Name:

Name : Odontesthes bonariensis
Taxonomist : Achille Valenciennes (Paris - France)
Year : 1835
Subspecies : None, or not data available
Synonyms : None, or not data available

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Near-threatened species

A Near-threatened species is a species which has been categorized as "Near Threatened" (NT) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as that may be considered threatened with extinction in the near future, although it does not currently qualify for the threatened status. The IUCN notes the importance of re-evaluating near-threatened taxa at appropriate intervals.

Philatelic Issues

2005 – Uruguay – Stamp 2 of 4, from River Fishes Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: November 22nd, 2005
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 4 Stamps
Value: UYP 16

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 39 mm. x 27 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated