Spratelloides gracilis
Slender Sprat
©Anne Hoggett: Spratelloides gracilis caught in light traps near Lizard Island Research Station. Aquarium photo.
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Clupeiformes
Family
Clupeidae
Genus
Spratelloides
Species
Spratelloides gracilis
Colours
Distinguishing features
A slender, silvery fish; blue/green on the back and a broad silver stripe along the side. Like all members of the family Clupeidae, there is a single dorsal fin located midway along the body, pelvic fins on abdomen below the dorsal fin, and a short anal fin posteriorly.
Size
- Up to 10.5 cm (length according to Allen and Erdmann, 2012)
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Similar taxa
-
Animalia:
Blueback Sprat (species: Spratelloides delicatulus)
does not have a silver stripe on side and is relatively shorter (body depth 4.7 to 5.6 in SL compared to 5.8 to 7.6 for S. gracilis; Allen and Erdmann, 2012)
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Web resources
References
References that assist with identification
- Allen and M.V. Erdmann, G.R. (2012). Reef fishes of the East Indies. Volumes I-III in: Reef fishes of the East Indies. Tropical Reef Research, Perth, Australia. LIRS catalog number 90162.
- Leis, J.M. and B.M. Carson-Ewart (2000). Larvae of Indo-Pacific Coastal Fishes Brill, Leiden, pp. 1-850. LIRS catalog number 660.
Other references
- Leis, J.M. (1986). Vertical and horizontal distribution of fish larvae near coral reefs at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Marine Biology, 90: 505-516. LIRS catalog number 194.