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Madagascar round herring (Sauvagella madagascariensis) — Clupeidae

Madagascar round herring

Sauvagella madagascariensis
Family: Clupeidae
LC · Least Concern

The Madagascar round herring (Sauvagella madagascariensis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Clupeidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
6.6 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The Madagascar sardine is a small herring-like fish (Clupeidae) endemic to Madagascar. The species is slender and silvery and lives in fresh water, possibly also brackish water, from sea level to about 450 m elevation, mainly in smaller rivers and streams. It lives in schools and filters small zooplankton from the water with its fine gill rakers. It is an important prey fish. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Madagascar round herring?

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

Where does the Madagascar round herring live?

The Madagascar round herring lives in brackish water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Madagascar round herring get?

The Madagascar round herring grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Madagascar round herring dangerous to humans?

No, the Madagascar round herring is harmless to humans.

Is the Madagascar round herring edible?

The Madagascar round herring is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Madagaskar-sardinella sourced
English name
Madagascar round herring verified
Scientific name
Sauvagella madagascariensis
Family
Clupeidae
Other names
Madagascar round herring; Madagascar sprat verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.6 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
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
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
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

More from the family Clupeidae

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