Sprattus muelleri (Klunzinger, 1879)
New Zealand sprat
photo by FAO

Family:  Clupeidae (Herrings, shads, sardines, menhadens)
Max. size:  13 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 28 - 110 m
Distribution:  Southwest Pacific: New Zealand.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-21; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 12-23; Vertebrae: 43-47. Gill cover without bony radiating striae; tooth plate on tongue narrow, pointed at each end, its width about 4 or 5 times in length, lateral teeth moderate; scales without fine striae on exposed posterior part; back green-gray when fresh. Pterotic bulla absent. Last two anal rays normal.
Biology:  A schooling species found in coastal waters, from beaches down to 110 m or more. Has an apparently long spawning season (July to January) around the South Island, but not a fractional spawner. Eggs are present in mid-summer near Clutha River mouth (but samples may have included S. antipodum). More data needed.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 28 February 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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