Genus Elops Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Scientific name Elops senegalensis Higher classification Elops | |
Similar West African ladyfish, Elops, Elopiformes, Elops hawaiensis, Pacific ladyfish | ||
The Senegalese ladyfish, Elops senegalensis, is a species of fish in the Elopidae family, and is native to the coastal waters of the eastern Atlantic Ocean from Mauritania to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is often confused with the West African ladyfish, Elops lacerta, and can be distinguished only by the number of gill rakers on the lower part of the first gill arc, and the number of scales on the lateral line.
The Senegalese ladyfish grows to a maximum total length of 90 cm and a maximum weight of 5.9 kg.
Threats
This species uses estuarine areas and hypersaline lagoons; changes in the quality of these habitats may affect this species' population dynamics. Although this species may not be closely associated with any single habitat, it may be adversely affected by development and urbanization.