PORT PHILLIP BAY


Blue Sprat 

Spratelloides robustus Ogilby, 1897

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: 11-13
Anal fin spines/rays: 9-12
Caudal fin rays: 17
Pectoral fin rays: 13
Ventral fin spines/rays: 8

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 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:
Spratelloides
Species:
robustus

General Description

Body long, slender; dorsal fin short-based, positioned above pelvic fin, anterior rays much longer than those near rear of fin; caudal fin deeply forked; pectoral and pelvic fins small, pectoral fins low on body; belly rounded with smooth scales. Dark blue above, silvery below with a pair of longitudinal dark blue streaks near centre of caudal fin. To 12 cm.

Biology

This species forms large schools in shallow bays and estuaries along the coast.

Habitat

Shallow bays and estuaries, in depths of 1-60 m.

Open water

Distribution guide

Western, southern and eastern Australia.

Species Group

Fishes › Sardines, pilchards and allies

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Max Size

12 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, Blue Sprat, Spratelloides robustus, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 29 Nov 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6299

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