Reunion herring (Herklotsichthys spilurus)

Scientific name: Herklotsichthys spilurus Guichenot, 1863

The Reunion herring (Herklotsichthys spilurus) is a marine fish of the family Clupeidae. Native range: Western Indian Ocean, Kenya, Zanzibar (Tanzania), Reunion. Presumably also Madagascar.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-21; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 23. Resembles H. lossei, which is more slender and has small dark spots on the flank. Overlaps range of H. quadrimaculatus, which has elongate wing-like scales underneath the normal paired pre-dorsal scales. Flank silvery, without dark spots; a bright yellow or orange patch behind gill opening; dark blotch on tip of dorsal fin.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Herklotsichthys spilurus
Family: Clupeidae (Herrings, shads and sardines)
Order: Clupeiformes (Herrings)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 8.5
Common length: 7.0
Depth range: 0–50 m (0–164 ft)
Environment: Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 0 - 50 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Western Indian Ocean: Kenya, Zanzibar (Tanzania), Reunion. Presumably also Madagascar.
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