Teleostei (teleosts) >
Clupeiformes (Herrings) >
Dorosomatidae (Gizzard shads and sardinellas)
Etymology: Amblygaster: Greek, amblys = darkness + Greek, gaster = stomach (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Valenciennes.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 0 - 50 m (Ref. 188). Tropical; 30°N - 23°S, 39°E - 129°E (Ref. 188)
Indo-West Pacific: coasts of Africa eastward to Okinawa, Japan; south to Western Australia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 23.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 188); common length : 18.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 188)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 21; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 23. Body moderately slender, belly rather rounded, scutes not prominent. Distinguished from A. sirm by the absence of spots along the flank (gold in life, black on preservation) and fewer lower gill rakers. Closely resembles A. clupeoides, which has fewer lower gill rakers.
Body shape (shape guide): elongated; Cross section: compressed.
A schooling species occurring in coastal waters (Ref. 188, 75154).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Spawn in school (Ref. 205).
Whitehead, P.J.P., 1985. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 7. Clupeoid fishes of the world (suborder Clupeoidei). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the herrings, sardines, pilchards, sprats, shads, anchovies and wolf-herrings. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(7/1):1-303. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 188)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries
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