Atlantic Silverside Identification Guide

Key identification features

• Slender, elongated, and laterally compressed body, typically 3-6 inches (7-15 cm)
• Olive-green to pale tan back with a translucent, almost see-through midsection
• Broad, bright silvery-white stripe running the length of the body along the midline
• Two widely separated dorsal fins, the first small and spiny
• Large eyes and a small, slightly upturned mouth
• Scales are large and loosely attached, giving the body a delicate, easily damaged look when handled

Common look-alikes

• Inland Silverside: nearly identical in shape but found in brackish or fresh water rather than open coastal marine habitat
• California Grunion: larger, restricted to the Pacific coast, and known for beach-spawning behavior
• Small herring or anchovy: lack the sharp, bright lateral silver stripe and have only a single dorsal fin

Where you'll see one

Common in shallow coastal waters, bays, and estuaries along the Atlantic coast of North America, schooling near the surface over sand or grass flats. Large surface-rippling schools are often visible from shore in summer.