Herring

Belly convex in front, with 29 to 35 scutes. Mouth pointing obliquely upward; lower gill rakers 22 to 28, increasing with size of fish. Pectoral fin usually about equal to head length or greater; dorsal fin small, well behind midpoint of body; anal fin long, its origin well before dorsal fin origin.

Amphidromous. Refers to fishes that regularly migrate between freshwater and the sea (in both directions), but not for the purpose of breeding, as in anadromous and catadromous species. Sub-division of diadromous. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.Characteristic elements in amphidromy are: reproduction in fresh water, passage to sea by newly hatched larvae, a period of feeding and growing at sea usually a few months long, return to fresh water of well-grown juveniles, a further period of feeding and growing in fresh water, followed by reproduction there (Ref. 82692).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 51 - 63

Feeds on fish, benthic and planktonic invertebrates (Ref. 188).

Found close to shore and also entering estuaries (e.g. Aluhaluh on Barito River in Kalimantan, Indonesia). Ascends rivers into the tidal zone (Ref. 12693). Feeds on mysids, Pseudodiaptomus and copepod eggs, also prawns and other small crustaceans, bivalve eggs and larvae, amphipods and small fishes. Spawns in late February or early March to July or August (around Karwar, India). Used as fish meal or fertilizer (Ref. 4832).

fisheries: minor commercial; price category: low; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family