Ramnogaster arcuata (Jenyns, 1842) Jenyns's sprat |
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photo by
FAO |
Family: | Clupeidae (Herrings, shads, sardines, menhadens) | |||
Max. size: | 9 cm SL (male/unsexed) | |||
Environment: | pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 0 - 50 m | |||
Distribution: | Southwest Atlantic: southern Brazil (estuary of the Lagoa dos Patos) and Uruguay to at least BahÃa Blanca, Argentina; some of the more southerly records (even to the Beagle Channel) must refer to Sprattus fuegensis. | |||
Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-19; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 12-23. Belly sharply keeled. Flanks silvery without a distinct silver stripe (cf. Platanichthys). Distinguished from R. melanostoma of freshwaters by having more dorsal and pectoral fin rays and total gill rakers; from small Sardinella and Harengula by the evenly rounded hind margin of the gill opening; and from Sprattus fuegensis by having i 6 pelvic fin rays. | |||
Biology: | Forms schools in coastal waters, apparently inshore but not entering freshwater. | |||
IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 06 March 2017 Ref. (130435) | |||
Threat to humans: | harmless |