elopsids

Elopsids are fishes of the family Elopidae within the order Elopiformes. Commonly referred to as elopsids or ladyfishes, they comprise several species distributed in tropical and subtropical seas, with some also occurring in brackish rivers and estuaries. The Atlantic ladyfish (Elops saurus) is one of the better known representatives.

Elopsids are typically slender, elongated fishes with a silvery coloration. They are often found in warm coastal waters, estuaries, and rivers, where juveniles may inhabit mangrove and freshwater systems before migrating to the sea as adults. Many species undertake migrations between saltwater and freshwater during their life cycle, including spawning migrations.

They are predatory, feeding on small fishes, crustaceans, and other invertebrates. They form schools, especially when young, and exhibit rapid swimming performance to chase prey and evade predators. Reproduction involves external fertilization in the open water; eggs and larvae are pelagic and drift with currents, allowing wide dispersal. Some elopsids migrate long distances to reach their breeding grounds.

Elopsids are not major targets of commercial fisheries, but they are caught incidentally and valued by some recreational fishers. Their flesh is edible but commercially minor. Overall, elopsid populations are not widely listed as threatened; local declines can occur due to overfishing, habitat degradation, and water pollution in river systems.