Field identification notes
Look for a narrow, compressed body, a relatively large eye, and two separated dorsal fins. The bright side stripe has a dark border above it. The back can be olive or yellowish and the top of the head yellow-green. The Smithsonian account lists a maximum length of 18.3 cm.
Sources: Menidia peninsulae species account
Habitat and range notes
Quiet coastal waters, estuaries, and coastal ponds are its documented habitats, with brackish to marine salinities. The regional account runs from northeastern Florida to the Gulf of Mexico and lists shallow water down to about five meters.
Sources: Menidia peninsulae species account
Feeding and life-history notes
Recorded foods include animal plankton, small crustaceans, and mollusks. Its life-history categories distinguish bottom-associated eggs from pelagic larvae. Separating this fish from other silversides may require fin-ray and scale characters; the stripe alone is a family resemblance, not a complete identification.
Sources: Menidia peninsulae species account
Guide sources
Research reviewed 2026-10-17.
- Menidia peninsulae species account — Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
