Konosirus punctatus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)
Dotted gizzard shad
Konosirus punctatus
photo by Liu, J.

Family:  Dorosomatidae (Gizzard shads and sardinellas)
Max. size:  32 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; brackish; marine, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: coasts of Japan from about 38°N southward; Sea of Japan north to Vladivostok on mainland; also Yellow Sea, including Gulf of Pohai and East China Sea south to Taiwan Island and Hong Kong).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 192-27. Body moderately slender, moderately compressed, belly with 17 to 21 (usually 19 or 20) + 12 to 16 (usually 14 or 15), total 32 to 37 (usually 34 or 35) scutes; no pre-dorsal scutes. Snout projecting slightly; gill rakers of first arch at least 3/4 length of gill filaments. Vertebrae 46 to 51 (usually 49, also 48 or 51). A dark spot behind gill opening, followed by several lines of dark dots.
Biology:  Found off coasts and in bays, but migrating into shallower brackish water for breeding, at least in Ariake Sound (south Kyushu), where spawning takes place far up the Sound in April and May. Individuals apparently spawn twice or more during the season.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 28 February 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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