Hardhead Silverside Atherinomorus stipes/(A. lacunosus)

The Hardhead Silverside is a small schooling fish native to west Atlantic tropical coasts and shallow reefs from Bermuda to Brazil. The Broad-banded Hardyhead or Broad-banded Silverside, A. lacunosus, looks similar and is native to coasts/reefs of the Indo-Pacific (and the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal). They are translucent silver-green with a silver or blue-green lateral stripe, two dorsal fins and a broad, bluntish head. They reach some 10-12cm long.

Their large schools and those of the many other species of Silversides are an important food source for larger fish and sea birds as well as baitfish and food for humans.

They are related to Sand Smelt but also to freshwater Silversides and to the freshwater hardyheads, rainbowfish and blue-eyes of Australasia.