Labidesthes vanhyningi
Bean and Reid 1930
Family Atherinopsidae

Lateral view of a golden silverside
The golden silverside in the photo above was collected in Hillsborough County, Florida in 2014. It is now part of the Florida Museum ichthyology collection, UF 236204. Florida Museum photo by Zachary Randall

The golden silverside is a member of the New World silverside family. This species has a long, beaklike snout. The first dorsal fin originates slightly in front of the anal fin origin, and large males have a red snout and a bright yellow-green body. Golden silversides can live near the surface in lakes, ponds and quiet pools of creeks and small to large rivers. They’re usually found in open waterways, away from vegetation.

Status & distribution

  • Status — Native freshwater
  • Florida Distribution — Western and North Central and Peninsula drainages
  • River Drainages — Perdido River, Escambia River, Blackwater River, Yellow River, Choctawhatchee River, Econfina Creek, Apalachicola River, Ochlockonee River, minor Gulf tributaries, Suwannee River, Withlacoochee River, Tampa Bay, the Myakka or Peace River, Lake Okeechobee, Caloosahatchee River, the Everglades, Indian River, St. John’s River and the St. Mary’s River
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