Home · Clupeidae · Herring
Herring (Lile stolifera) — Clupeidae

Herring

Lile stolifera
Family: Clupeidae
LC · Least Concern

The Herring (Lile stolifera) is a saltwater fish of the family Clupeidae that grows up to 16 cm.

Length
15.9 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–50.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The striped herring is a small herring (family Clupeidae) of the eastern Pacific. The species reaches about 16 cm and has a laterally compressed, silvery body with a shining lateral stripe. It is a coastal-pelagic species that forms dense schools on beaches, in lagoons and estuaries and tolerates salt, brackish and fresh water. As a filter feeder it lives on plankton, especially small crustaceans. The species is of modest commercial value and is an important food source for predatory fishes and seabirds. It is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Herring?

The Herring has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Herring live?

The Herring lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Herring get?

The Herring grows to a maximum of about 16 cm. On average the species is around 10 cm.

Is the Herring dangerous to humans?

No, the Herring is harmless to humans.

Is the Herring edible?

The Herring is rarely eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Gestreepte sardine sourced
English name
Herring verified
Scientific name
Lile stolifera
Family
Clupeidae
Other names
Pacific piquitinga; Striped herring verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
15.9 verified
Average length (cm)
10.0 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
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely 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 Lile

More from the family Clupeidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →