Clupeonella grimmi Kessler, 1877
Southern Caspian sprat
photo by FAO

Family:  Ehiravidae (River sprats)
Max. size:  14.5 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 23.0 g; max. reported age: 8 years
Environment:  pelagic; brackish; depth range - 32 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Former USSR and Asia: central and southern parts of the Caspian Sea.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-21; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 12-23. Body moderately slender; head long and narrow; belly sharply keeled, with 26 to 32 scutes; pectoral fin tips rounded; last two anal fin rays enlarged; pterotic bulla absent; no notch at the center of the upper jaw.
Biology:  Schools in the open sea, not approaching shores. Occurs mainly in the south in winter, migrating to the middle parts of the sea in spring and returning south in November-December. Found in upper layers in March-April, but descends to 16 to 32 m in summer and autumn. Feeds mainly on copepods, also pelagic mysids and small fishes. Breeds in January-September intermittently in the open sea. Stocks said to be depleted in southern part of Caspian Sea.
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 17 July 2017 (A2bde) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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