Sprattus fuegensis (Jenyns, 1842)
Falkland sprat
Sprattus fuegensis
photo by INIDEP

Family:  Clupeidae (Herrings, shads, sardines, menhadens)
Max. size:  18 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range - 10 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Southwest Atlantic: 40°S to Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands (Ref. 188), also Burdwood Bank (Ref. 27363). Records from the Pacific may refer to Strangomera.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-21; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 12-23; Vertebrae: 52-58. Lower jaw slightly projecting, gill cover without bony radiating striae. Last two anal fin rays not enlarged. No dark spots on flanks. Pterotic bulla absent. Body dark blue dorsally and silvery white laterally and ventrally (Ref. 27363). All fins translucent (Ref. 27363).
Biology:  A schooling species found in coastal waters. Food item of hakes, sea birds and seals in the Patagonian Falkland waters (Ref. 27363).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 December 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.