Clupeonella abrau (Maliatsky, 1930)
Abrau sprat
Clupeonella abrau
photo by FAO

Family:  Ehiravidae (River sprats)
Max. size:  9.5 cm SL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 2 years
Environment:  pelagic; freshwater, non-migratory
Distribution:  Europe: Lake Abrau (freshwater, landlocked, at 70 m above sea level, near to Novorossiisk) in Russia; not Lake Apolyont (Turkey), which is linked to Sea of Marmora.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-21; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 12-23. Body moderately slender, its depth about 19 to 23% of standard length; head short and narrow, interorbital width not more than 17.5% of standard length; belly sharply keeled, with 23 to 26 scutes. Pectoral fin tips pointed. Pterotic bulla absent. No notch at the center of the upper jaw. Last two anal fin rays enlarged.
Biology:  Forms schools. Feeds on crustaceans (juveniles feed on copepods, rotifer eggs and plants). Breeds from May to October. The eggs are pelagic, developing rapidly before sinking to the bottom. Matures at 1 year, at 3.5 to 4.5 cm SL.
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 01 January 2008 (B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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