Home · Dussumieriidae · Hasselt's sprat
Hasselt's sprat (Dussumieria elopsoides) — Dussumieriidae

Hasselt's sprat

Dussumieria elopsoides
LC · Least Concern

The Hasselt's sprat (Dussumieria elopsoides) is a saltwater fish of the family Dussumieriidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–50.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The rainbow sardine is a herring relative (Dussumieriidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species has a slender, round-bodied, silvery body with a green-blue back and an iridescent lengthwise band that shows rainbow colours in the light. It is a pelagic coastal fish that swims in large schools near the coast. It feeds on zooplankton it filters from the water. It is a commercial fish. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Hasselt's sprat?

The Hasselt's sprat has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Hasselt's sprat live?

The Hasselt's sprat lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Hasselt's sprat get?

The Hasselt's sprat grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Hasselt's sprat dangerous to humans?

No, the Hasselt's sprat is harmless to humans.

Is the Hasselt's sprat edible?

Yes, the Hasselt's sprat is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Regenboog-sardien sourced
English name
Hasselt's sprat verified
Scientific name
Dussumieria elopsoides
Family
Dussumieriidae
Other names
Hasselt's sprat; Rainbow round herring; Rainbow sardine; Round herring verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Horizontal stripes inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
50.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Large groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Sportvissen met kunstaas of (dood/levend) aasvis door te trollen, te werpen of drijvend te vissen in open water. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Dussumieria

More from the family Dussumieriidae

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