Herklotsichthys dispilonotus (Bleeker, 1852)
Blacksaddle herring
Herklotsichthys dispilonotus
photo by FAO

Family:  Dorosomatidae (Gizzard shads and sardinellas)
Max. size:  8.5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 50 m
Distribution:  Western Central Pacific: Gulf of Thailand, Philippines, and Indonesia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-21; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 12-23. Immediately distinguished from all other species of Herklotsichthys by the presence of two dark saddle-like blotches on the back, at the hind part of the dorsal fin base and a short distance behind this. Overlaps range of H. quadrimaculatus, which lacks the black saddles and has elongate wing-like scales underneath the normal paired pre-dorsal scales.
Biology:  A schooling species found in coastal waters. Uncommon.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 06 March 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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