New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

💧 Freshwater Least Concern 🌡️ Subtropical

Uruguay river sprat

Ramnogaster melanostoma Eigenmann, 1907
Max Length
10 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.1
Depth
-
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
22.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
pelagic

📖 Overview

Apparently confined to freshwater at mouths of rivers and their lower reaches. Presumably schooling.

Scientific Name
Ramnogaster melanostoma
Authority
Eigenmann, 1907
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
10 cm
Trophic Level
3.1
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
22.00/100
Salinity
0–0.5 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 16; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 23. Belly sharply keeled. No distinct silver stripe along the flank and the first (anterior) supra-maxilla minute or absent (cf. Platanichthys platana). Distinguished from very similar R. arcuata of coastal waters by having fewer dorsal and pectoral fin rays and fewer gill rakers total; from small Sardinella and Harengula by the evenly rounded hind margin of the gill opening.: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Uruguay river sprat is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous
Spawning Season
spring
Spawn Location
Substrate
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; pelagic. Subtropical; 31°S - 38°S South America: Uruguay and Argentina.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater 🐟 Pelagic
Trophic Level
3.1±0.1
🐠 Schooling

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00676 × L3.13 (TL)
Max TL
10cm
Dorsal Rays
16
Anal Rays
18

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
0–0.5ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2019

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
22.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.1
Predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Eigenmann, 1907

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Uruguay river sprat ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.