Atlantic Moonfish

Atlantic Moonfish - Selene setapinnis

*Information from FAO Species Identification Guide Western Central Atlantic*

moonfish1.jpg
Size
Maximum to 33 cm fork length; 39 cm total length; common to 24 cm fork length.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries

A schooling species, usually near the bottom from inshore waters to at least 54 m depth. Young occur near the surface, as far as 180 km offshore. Juveniles may occur in bays and river mouths. Sexual maturity is reached by about 13 cm fork length. Feeds on small fishes and crustaceans. Caught with trawls or seines. Edibility rated poor to good.

Distribution
In the Western Atlantic apparently restricted to continental margins from Nova Scotia to Mar del Plata, Argentina. Two closely related species occur in other areas, Selene dorsalis (Gill) in the eastern Atlantic, and Selene peruviana (Guichenot) in the eastern Pacific.