European sprat
| Sprattus sprattus (Linnaeus, 1758) | ||||
| Family: | Clupeidae (Herrings, shads, sardines, menhadens) |
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| Order: | Clupeiformes | |||
| Class: | Teleostei | |||
| English name: | European sprat | |||
| Distribution: | Northeast Atlantic: North Sea and adjacent waters as far north as the Lofoten Area and the west of the British Isles, and Baltic Sea south to Morocco; also in northern Mediterranean (Gulf of Lion and the Adriatic Sea) and Black Sea. | |||
| Adult biology: | Usually inshore schooling, sometimes entering estuaries (especially the juveniles) and tolerating salinities as low as 4 ppt. Shows strong migrations between winter feeding and summer spawning grounds. Moves to the surface at night. Feeds on planktonic crustaceans (Ref. 9900). Spawns at depths of 10-20 m producing 6,000-14,000 pelagic eggs (Ref. 35388). Some spawn almost throughout the year, mainly in spring and summer, near the coast or up to 100 km out to sea, the young drifting inshore. Sold as 'brislings' to canneries. Sprat are used in the production of fish meal and as mink food, less for human consumption (Ref. 9900). Utilized fresh, smoked, canned and frozen; can be pan-fried and broiled (Ref. 9988). | |||
| Diagnosis: | At 10-11 mm: dorsal originates on 28th myomere (in pilchard on myomere 31). At 15-16 mm: caudal not yet emarginate ( in pilchard emarginate). At 18 mm: pelvic fins behind pylorous (in pilchard at level of pylorous). . See also LARVAE table. | |||
| Climate Zone: | temperate; 69°N - 30°N | |||
| Main Ref: | Russell, F.S.. 1976. (Ref. 37) | |||
| More information: | Collaborators | Common names | Countries | Diet composition larvae | Egg dev. | Eggs | FAO areas | Introductions | Larvae | Maturity | Pictures | References | Reproduction | Spawning | Fecundity | Synonyms | | |||
| Internet sources: |
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| Checked by: Giovanardi, Otello |
Modified by: Luna, Susan M. |
Entered by: Papasissi, Christine |
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