HomeFish encyclopediaRay-finned fishesHerringsHerrings, shads and sardinesCastelnau's herring Castelnau's herring (Herklotsichthys castelnaui) Scientific name: Herklotsichthys castelnaui Ogilby, 1897 The Castelnau's herring (Herklotsichthys castelnaui) is a freshwater fish of the family Clupeidae. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-19; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 17 - 21; Vertebrae: 41 - 42. Distinguished from most other Australian Herklotsichthys by lacking spots on the flank and lacking elongate wing-like scales underneath pre-dorsal scales. Most closely resembles H. blackburni but has more lower gill rakers. Separated from H. gotoi and Herklotsichthys species C by having 3 distinct dark lines upper flank. Upper caudal tip black; dorsal fin with distinct pale band.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameHerklotsichthys castelnauiFamilyClupeidae (Herrings, shads and sardines)OrderClupeiformes (Herrings)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length20.0Common length14.0Depth range0–50 m (0–164 ft)EnvironmentMarine; freshwater; brackish; pelagic-neritic; depth range 0 - 50 mClimateTropicalDistributionSouthwest Pacific: eastern Australia (Queensland southward to New South Wales). Possibly merely an eastern subspecies, of which Herklotsichthys blackburni is the western counterpart; however, it seems equally close to Herklotsichthys Species C. Reported from lower Fly River, Papua New Guinea.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: minor commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026