Royal sprat (Microthrissa royauxi)

Scientific name: Microthrissa royauxi Boulenger, 1902

Royal sprat (Microthrissa royauxi)

The Royal sprat (Microthrissa royauxi) is a freshwater fish of the family Clupeidae. Native range: Africa, most of Congo system, including the Oubangui River but apparently not in the Kasai and its tributaries.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-18; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 23 - 27; Vertebrae: 37 - 41. Scutes strongly keeled, 1 or 2 before base of first pectoral fin ray, 13 or 14 + 6 or 7; 13-16 prepelvic scutes, 3-7 postpelvic scutes. Snout fairly pointed; lower jaw not projecting, included in upper when mouth closed, with small teeth at symphysis; maxilla blade slender (more than 3 times as long as deep), upper edge with a ridge flared outward; supra-maxilla small, shaft as long as or longer than blade, the latter spatulate.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Microthrissa royauxi
Family
Clupeidae (Herrings, shads and sardines)
Order
Clupeiformes (Herrings)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
9.9
Environment
Freshwater; pelagic
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Africa: most of Congo system, including the Oubangui River but apparently not in the Kasai and its tributaries.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
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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