Dorab wolf-herring (Chirocentrus dorab)

Scientific name: Chirocentrus dorab Forssk?l, 1775

The Dorab wolf-herring (Chirocentrus dorab) is a brackish-water fish of the family Chirocentridae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Scales numerous, small, usually lost. Silvery; back bright blue (fading to grey); flanks bright silver. The slightly shorter pectoral fin and the black marking of the upper part of the dorsal fin are the only satisfactory characters separating this species from C. nudus. Fins spineless; with numerous dagger-like teeth.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Chirocentrus dorab
Family: Chirocentridae (Wolf herring)
Order: Clupeiformes (Herrings)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 100.0
Common length: 60.0
Depth range: 120 m (394 ft)
Environment: Marine; brackish; reef-associated; amphidromous; depth range ? - 120 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Indo-Pacific: probably throughout the warmer coastal waters, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia. Recently reported from Tonga.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; bait: usually
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming tm=2)

Sources

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

Last updated 27 September 2026