Slender Sprat, Spratelloides gracilis (Schlegel, 1846)
Scientific name: Spratelloides gracilis
Alternative name/s:
Silver Stripe Round Herring
Silver Stripe Round Herring
Click to enlarge image
A school of Slender Sprat at a depth of 1m, North Direction Island, Queensland, 30 Dec 2012. The species can be recognised by its relatively narrow body and broad lateral stripe. Thank you to Dr Tom Munroe for his help identifying the fish.
Image: Anne Hoggett
© Australian Museum
© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Spratelloides
- Species
- gracilis
- Family
- Clupeidae
- Order
- Clupeidae
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- It grows to about 9.5 cm in length.
Identification
The Slender Sprat is has a slender, cylindrical body. There is a bright silver stripe along the side of the body.
Habitat
It is a pelagic, schooling species that occurs primarily in shallow coastal waters.
Distribution
The species occurs widely thoughout the Indo-west Pacific region.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
References
- Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
- Munroe, T.A, Wongratana, T and M.S. Nizinski in Carpenter, Kent E. & Niem, Volker H., 1999. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 3. Batoid fishes, chimaeras and bony fishes part 1 (Elopidae to Linophrynidae) 2069-2790.
