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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🌡️ Subtropical

Australian sprat

Sprattus novaehollandiae Valenciennes, 1847
Max Length
14 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
2.8
Depth
0–50 m
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
27.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
pelagic

📖 Overview

A schooling species found in coastal waters (in deep bays, Ref. 9563), appearing off Tasmanian shores in large schools (especially in August-November) and often entering estuaries (e.g. of Tamar and Derwent Rivers; said to ascend the former as far as Launceston in March). More data needed.

Scientific Name
Sprattus novaehollandiae
Authority
Valenciennes, 1847
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
14 cm
Depth Range
0–50 m
Trophic Level
2.8
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
27.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 21; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 23. Lower jaw slightly projecting, gill cover without bony radiating striae; belly not sharply keeled, scutes rounded; last two anal fin rays not enlarged. Pterotic bulla absent.: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Australian sprat is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; brackish; pelagic-neritic; depth range 0 - 50 m . Subtropical; 38°S - 45°S, 139°E - 149°E Southwest Pacific: Australia and New Zealand.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🌿 Brackish 🐟 Pelagic
Trophic Level
2.8±0.2
🐠 Schooling

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00676 × L3.13 (TL)
Max TL
14cm
Dorsal Rays
17
Anal Rays
18

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2017

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
27.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
2.8
Omnivore / Planktivore
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Valenciennes, 1847

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Clupea bassensis McCulloch 1911 Synonym
Meletta novaehollandiae Valenciennes 1847 Synonym
Sprattus bassensis McCulloch 1911 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 2 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
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