Herklotsichthys spilura (Guichenot, 1863)
Reunion herring
Herklotsichthys spilura
photo by FAO

Family:  Dorosomatidae (Gizzard shads and sardinellas)
Max. size:  8.5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 0 - 50 m
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: Kenya, Zanzibar (Tanzania), Reunion. Presumably also Madagascar.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-21; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 12-23. Resembles H. lossei, which is more slender and has small dark spots on the flank. Overlaps range of H. quadrimaculatus, which has elongate wing-like scales underneath the normal paired pre-dorsal scales. Flank silvery, without dark spots; a bright yellow or orange patch behind gill opening; dark blotch on tip of dorsal fin.
Biology:  A schooling species occurring in coastal waters. Caught with artisanal fishing gear (Ref. 30573).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 02 March 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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