Platanichthys platana (Regan, 1917)
River Plate sprat
Platanichthys platana
photo by FAO

Family:  Dorosomatidae (Gizzard shads and sardinellas)
Max. size:  18.5 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 58.5 g
Environment:  pelagic; freshwater; brackish; depth range 0 - 50 m
Distribution:  South America: just north of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Uruguay and Argentina.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-21; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 12-23. Belly sharply keeled. Anterior (first) supra-maxilla minute or absent (cf. Ramnogaster); posterior frontal fontanelles on top of head retained in adults; no sharp retrorse spine near front of maxilla (cf. Rhinosardinia); no fleshy outgrowths on the hind margin of the gill opening (cf. Sardinella and Harengula); silver lateral stripe present (cf. Sprattus fuegensis).
Biology:  Probably confined to freshwaters and brackish waters of lagoons, estuaries and the lower reaches of rivers.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 05 March 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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