| Family: |
Spratelloididae (Small round herrings) |
| Max. size: |
7 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 50 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Society Islands (but not the Tuamoto and Marquesas islands), north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia. Single specimen from eastern Mediterranean (Tel-Aviv, Israel). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 10-11. No bright silver along band flanks, maxilla toothless; pre-maxillae triangular, 2 supra-maxillae, second supra-maxilla paddle-shaped and symmetrical; vertical striate on scales meeting at center, posterior margin of scales smooth, pre-dorsal scales 8 to 13; W-shaped pelvic scute, few branchiostegal rays (6 or 7).
Description: Characterized by depth of body 4.7-5.6 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Pelagic (Ref. 68964). Usually an inshore schooling species, inhabiting relatively clear coastal waters, lagoons, and along reef margins. Feeds near surface on plankton. Found in large schools (Ref. 9710). Pelagic (Ref. 58302). Marketed fresh or dried-salted (Ref. 5213) and used as tuna baitfish. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 28 February 2017 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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