Amazon spinejaw sprat (Rhinosardinia amazonica)

Scientific name: Rhinosardinia amazonica Steindachner, 1879

Amazon spinejaw sprat (Rhinosardinia amazonica)

The Amazon spinejaw sprat (Rhinosardinia amazonica) is a freshwater fish of the family Clupeidae. Native range: South America, lower reaches of the Orinoco, rivers of the Guianas, Amazon at Par?, but undoubtedly elsewhere in its lower part.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-21; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 15 - 18. Belly strongly keeled; two distinct parallel striae on scales; a silver stripe along flank in some specimens. Easily separated from all other clupeids in the area by the sharp retrorse spine on the upper part of the maxilla at about the level of the eye center. Distinguished from the very similar R. bahiensis mainly by having fewer vertebrae (38 or 39) and fewer scales in lateral series. Body silvery, head yellowish white.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Rhinosardinia amazonica
Family
Clupeidae (Herrings, shads and sardines)
Order
Clupeiformes (Herrings)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
8.0
Common length
5.0
Environment
Freshwater; brackish; pelagic
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
South America: lower reaches of the Orinoco, rivers of the Guianas, Amazon at Par?, but undoubtedly elsewhere in its lower part.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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