Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Aulopiformes
- Family
- Atherinopsidae
- Genus
- Odontesthes
- Species
- bonariensis
Habitat
Pejerrey primarily inhabit freshwater rivers, lakes, and brackish estuaries in temperate regions of South America, such as the Río de la Plata basin and Pampean lakes. They prefer clear, slow-moving waters with aquatic vegetation for cover and are also found in introduced areas like parts of Europe and Asia. These fish thrive in depths up to 10 meters, avoiding extremely turbid or fast-flowing environments.
Diet
Pejerrey feed mainly on zooplankton, small insects, and fish larvae, which they capture by filtering or actively chasing in the water column. They exhibit opportunistic feeding behavior, often schooling to hunt more effectively, and are most active during daylight hours when prey is abundant. In some habitats, they also consume algae and plant matter, supplementing their diet based on availability.
Behavior
Pejerrey are highly schooling fish that form large groups for protection and feeding, making them more active during the day in open waters. They exhibit migratory behavior, moving to shallower areas for spawning in spring, and can be territorial around feeding spots. These fish are generally non-aggressive but may scatter quickly when threatened, relying on their speed and schooling to evade predators.
Fishing
It is mostly appreciated by sport fishermen and for semi-intensive culture due to the quality of its meat and its rapid growth
Conservation Status
Listed as Not Evaluated by IUCN.