Rainbowfishes and Silversides: Atheriniformes

Rainbowfishes and silversides form schools of various sizes. Some saltwater silversides form schools numbering in the thousands and cruise just below the surface, constantly feeding on plankton. Some schools are more than 328 feet (100 meters) long and 66 feet (20 meters) wide. At night silversides are attracted to bright lights and are caught easily by fishermen for use as bait.

Rainbowfishes and silversides are known for their unusual reproductive behaviors. These fishes have large eggs with sticky filaments that are used to anchor the eggs to plants or other materials at the bottom of the water. Female rainbowfishes spawn, or release eggs, day after day for a long time. The eggs attach themselves by a thread to underwater plants. Grunions time their spawning to take advantage of the tides.