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FishBase

Family Clupeidae - Herrings, shads, sardines, menhadens

Order:

Clupeiformes

Class:

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

No. of Genera:

No. of Species:

216

Environment:

Fresh: Yes Brackish: Yes Marine: Yes

Aquarium:

none

First Fossil Record:

lower Tertiary, lower Eocene Ref.: Gaudant, J..1991

Remark:

Distribution: global (mostly tropical) from 70° N to about 60° S. Chiefly marine coastal and schooling fishes; some freshwater and anadromous. Body usually fusiform, round to strongly compressed. Head without scales; jaw teeth, when present, are small or minute. A single dorsal fin, small and near midpoint of body; pelvic fins more or less below dorsal fin base; dorsal and pelvic fins absent in some species; soft rays only. Lateral line spanning a few scales behind the head in some species, missing in others; scales cycloid (smooth to touch); abdominal scutes usually present (a single pelvic scute in the Dussumieriinae). Branchiostegal rays usually 5-10. Most feed on small planktonic animals. Size range (adults): from 2 to 75 cm. One of the most important family of commercial fishes, processed for food, oil, or fish meal.

Etymology:

Latin, clupea = sardine, derived from Clupeus = shield; doubtless a reference to the scales covering the body of the fish + Greek, odous = teeth

Division:

Marine

Reproductive guild:

nonguarders

Typical activity level:

normal

Main Ref.:

Whitehead, P.J.P..1985

Coordinator:

Show species | Nominal species list for Clupeidae | Identification keys | CAS specimen photos | References

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