Elongate Hardyhead

Leptatherina presbyteroides

Fish
IUCN: Not evaluated

Usual depth1–5 m
Water temperature14–21 °C
Best monthsFebruary, April, and December
How commonCommon

All species

Where and when

Where it has been recorded

Worldwide

Loading the map

Best months

Worldwide (open data)

January: 18 records
February: 36 records
March: 31 records
April: 41 records
May: 16 records
June: 22 records
July: 23 records
August: 13 records
September: 13 records
October: 35 records
November: 17 records
December: 47 records

Depth and water temperature

Depth

Mostly recorded at 1–5 m · Deepest record: 10 m

0–10 m: 62 records
10–20 m: 4 records

Water temperature

Recorded in surface water of 14–21 °C

12–14 °C: 2 records
14–16 °C: 11 records
16–18 °C: 4 records
18–20 °C: 12 records
20–22 °C: 1 records

Names and classification

English: Elongate Hardyhead, Port Lincoln Hardyhead, Prettyfish, Silver Fish, Swan River Hardyhead, Tamar Hardyhead

Other scientific names: Atherina presbyteroides, Atherina tamarensis, Atherinichthys edelensis, Atherinichthys obscurus, Atherinosoma presbyteroides

Similar species

Atherinosoma elongatum
Endora's Hardyhead
Atherinosoma microstoma
Cape silverside
Atherina breviceps
Short-headed Hardyhead
Kestratherina brevirostris
Dannevig's Hardyhead
Atherinason hepsetoides
Pike-headed Hardyhead
Kestratherina esox

Sources and credits

Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).

Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
604 open-data records from 1917 to 2015.
Species data updated November 4, 2026.

Log what you see on your next dive

The free DiveHive diver app keeps your logbook with every sighting and shows what lives at the site you dive next.

Join the waitlist