Herring

Belly with 29 to 34 scutes. Head large; a median notch in upper jaw, which distinguishes it from other similar clupeids, except Hilsa kelee; with a well developed sebaceous eyelids. Gill rakers fine and numerous, each raker with scattered asperities. Caudal fin deeply forked with minute scales. A dark blotch behind gill opening and a series of spots along flank. Color: Metallic blue-green back that lightens to silver along the sides (Ref. 45563).

Ascend rivers to breed (Ref. 45563). After spawning, the adults go back to the sea while the larvae stay in river mouths during their first year. At the beginning of their second year, the juveniles swim to the sea (Ref. 45563).

Anadromous. Fish that ascend rivers to spawn, as salmon and hilsa do. Sub-division of diadromous. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 15; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 16 - 18; Vertebrae: 44 - 45

Inhabits coral reefs (Ref. 58534). Anadromous. Schooling in coastal waters and ascending rivers to breed. Adults are found near the surface at sea while larvae and juveniles spend the first two years of their life in river tide pools and estuaries (Ref. 57990). Feed on cyclopoids and other copepods, rotifers, Bacillaria and fragmentary organic matters (Ref. 45563).

Schooling in coastal waters and ascending rivers to breed. Adults are found near the surface at sea while larvae and juveniles spend the first two years of their life in river tide pools and estuaries (Ref. 57990). Feed on planktonic crustaceans like cyclopoids and other copepods, and rotifers (Ref. 45563).

fisheries: minor commercial; price category: low; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family

分布於中國沿海至南中國海。臺灣澎湖曾有記錄。

本種魚產量並不大，常混於流刺網漁獲中，可生鮮、乾製或醃漬出售。主要漁法為流刺網和圍網。

體呈長卵圓形，側扁；腹部有稜鱗，16-17+14個。頭部頂骨緣窄，頂緣無細紋。吻等於成大於眼徑。眼側位；脂性眼臉發達。口小，端位；上下頜約等長；前上頜骨中間具顯著缺刻；上頜骨末端延伸至眼中部下方；無齒。鰓蓋骨光滑。體被圓鱗，後緣無細孔；背鰭和臀鰭基部之鱗鞘低；腹鰭基部具腋鱗；尾鰭具細鱗。背鰭位於體中部前方，末端軟條不延長如絲，具軟條17-18；臀鰭位於體之後半部，具軟條18-20；腹鰭軟條8；尾鰭深叉。體背部青綠色，體側下方和腹部銀白色；幼魚期體側具斑點，成魚時消失。背、尾鰭具灰黑色緣。

沿近海中上層洄游性中小型魚類，有時會進入河口域、半淡鹼水之河川下游、內灣或潟湖區，成魚後進入淡水河川或湖泊產卵。群游性。以浮游生物為食。