Slender thread herring (Opisthonema bulleri)

Scientific name: Opisthonema bulleri Regan, 1904

The Slender thread herring (Opisthonema bulleri) is a marine fish of the family Clupeidae. Native range: Eastern Pacific, Baja California, Mexico southward to Punta Sal and Punta Picos, Peru.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-21; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 23. The filamentous last dorsal fin rays distinguish it from any other eastern Pacific genus. Separated from other eastern Pacific Opisthonema by having only 25 to 36 lower gill rakers in fishes over 14 cm standard length.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Opisthonema bulleri
Family: Clupeidae (Herrings, shads and sardines)
Order: Clupeiformes (Herrings)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 20.0
Common length: 18.0
Depth range: 0–50 m (0–164 ft)
Environment: Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 0 - 50 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Eastern Pacific: Baja California, Mexico southward to Punta Sal and Punta Picos, Peru.
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.

Last updated 27 September 2026