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Blueline herring (Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus) — Clupeidae

Blueline herring

Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus
Family: Clupeidae
LC · Least Concern

The Blueline herring (Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Clupeidae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Depth
0.0–13.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The bluestripe herring is a herring (Clupeidae) from the Indo-Pacific. The species is small and has a slender, silvery body with a bluish back and a few spots behind the gill cover. By day adults form schools near mangroves and in shallow coastal bays and lagoons, while at night they move to deeper water. As a filter feeder it sifts small zooplankton from the water. It is an important prey and bait fish and is fished locally. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blueline herring?

The Blueline herring has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Blueline herring live?

The Blueline herring lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Blueline herring get?

The Blueline herring grows to a maximum of about 25 cm. On average the species is around 10 cm.

Is the Blueline herring dangerous to humans?

No, the Blueline herring is harmless to humans.

Is the Blueline herring edible?

Yes, the Blueline herring is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Blauwstreep-sardien sourced
English name
Blueline herring verified
Scientific name
Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus
Family
Clupeidae
Other names
Bluestripe herring verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
25.0 verified
Average length (cm)
10.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain 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
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
13.0 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
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. 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 Herklotsichthys

More from the family Clupeidae

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