Sprattus novaehollandiae (Valenciennes, 1847)
Australian sprat
Sprattus novaehollandiae
photo by FAO

Family:  Clupeidae (Herrings, shads, sardines, menhadens)
Max. size:  14 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 50 m
Distribution:  Southwest Pacific: Australia and New Zealand.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-21; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 12-23. Lower jaw slightly projecting, gill cover without bony radiating striae; belly not sharply keeled, scutes rounded; last two anal fin rays not enlarged. Pterotic bulla absent.
Biology:  A schooling species found in coastal waters (in deep bays, Ref. 9563), appearing off Tasmanian shores in large schools (especially in August-November) and often entering estuaries (e.g. of Tamar and Derwent Rivers; said to ascend the former as far as Launceston in March). More data needed.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 28 February 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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