PORT PHILLIP BAY


Sandy Sprat 

Hyperlophus vittatus

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: 15-17
Anal fin spines/rays: 17-20
Caudal fin rays: 19
Pectoral fin rays: 14-15
Ventral fin spines/rays: 7

Interpreting fin count meristics.
Spines are in Roman numerals and soft rays are in Arabic numerals. Spines and rays that are continuous in one fin are separated by a comma. Fin sections are separated by semicolons.

Detailed descriptions of fin count and other mersitics are in:
Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) (2008) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Order level detail.
Mostly small schooling fishes with silvery streamlined bodies, large scales, a single short-based dorsal fin, abdominal pelvic fins and a forked tail. Many species have a well-developed row of scutes along the belly, and some have a row of scutes on the midline behind the head.

Family level detail.
Mostly small, compressed silvery fishes with a single short-based dorsal fin on the middle of the back, a forked tail, pectoral fins low on the body and abdominal pelvic fins. They have large weakly attached scales, no lateral line and often have a large mouth and long gill rakers.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Clupeiformes
Family:
Clupeidae
Genus:
Hyperlophus
Species:
vittatus

General Description

Body long, slender, compressed; dorsal fin short-based; belly and area before the dorsal-fin origin with thick overlapping scales forming a slightly serrated keel. Body sandy-coloured with a broad silver stripe along the sides. To 10 cm.

Biology

These small schooling fishes are often sold as bait.

Habitat

Sheltered bays and estuaries, in depths of 0-5 m.

Open water

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Fishes › Sardines, pilchards and allies

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)

Max Size

10 cm

Commercial Species

Yes

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Bray, D.J.

Di Bray is a Senior Collection Manager of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Gomon, M.F.

Dr. Martin Gomon is a Senior Curator of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F., 2011, Sandy Sprat, Hyperlophus vittatus, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 04 Jul 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6296

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