Blackburn's herring (Herklotsichthys blackburni)

Scientific name: Herklotsichthys blackburni Whitley, 1948

The Blackburn's herring (Herklotsichthys blackburni) is a marine fish of the family Clupeidae. Native range: Eastern Indian Ocean, Western Australia. The western counterpart of Herklotsichthys castelnaui and possibly merely a subspecies.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-21; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 23. Distinguished from most other Australian Herklotsichthys by lacking spots on the flank and lacking elongate wing-like scales underneath the normal paired pre-dorsal scales. Most closely resembles H. castelnaui but has fewer lower gill rakers. Separated from H. gotoi and Herklotsichthys Species C by its black tips to caudal fin and 3 distinct dark lines along upper flank.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Herklotsichthys blackburni
Family: Clupeidae (Herrings, shads and sardines)
Order: Clupeiformes (Herrings)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 10.5
Common length: 8.0
Depth range: 0–50 m (0–164 ft)
Environment: Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 0 - 50 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Eastern Indian Ocean: Western Australia. The western counterpart of Herklotsichthys castelnaui and possibly merely a subspecies.
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.

Last updated 27 September 2026