Harvestfish
Harvestfish
Star Butter
Peprilus paru

Description:

Harvestfish have a compressed round body that rapidly tapers down to a forked tail. The harvestfish has a blunt snout and a small, forward-oriented mouth. The upper back and sides of the fish may appear silver-blue/green, which fades to silver/white near the belly. The harvestfish has falcate dorsal and anal fins with the anterior ray of both fins elongate. The fish does not have any pelvic fins, and the lateral line is located higher up on the upper half of the body. Harvestfish typically reach up to 7 inches in length, but larger specimens have been observed to reach up to 14 inches.

Average Maximum Size:

27 cm (11 in)

Adults Distinguishing Characteristics:

The Harvestfish can be distinguished from the Atlantic Butterfish and Atlantic Bumper by its combination of a distinctly compact body, proportionally large falcate dorsal and anal fins, and lack of pelvic fins.

Juveniles Distinguishing Characteristics:

Juvenile Harvestfish share the same distinct appearance of the adults.

Range:

Chesapeake Bay to Argentina.

Habitat:

Harvestfish can be found in coastal salt and brackish waters with sandy muddy bottoms. They may form large schools inshore over continental shelves and in bays and estuaries. Can be found anywhere within the water column from the ocean’s surface to the ocean bottom.

Notes:

Regulated Species:

No

Regulations Website:

Species: Peprilus paru
Family: Stromateidae
Family Description: Butterfish
Mouth Type: Terminal
Tail Type: Forked
Dorsal Type: Single

Similar Species

Click on the image below to view details.

ButterfishAtl
Atlantic Butterfish
Bumper Atlantic
Atlantic Bumper