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

🌊 Marine Least Concern 🌡️ Subtropical

Araucanian herring

Strangomera bentincki Norman, 1936
Max Length
28.4 cm
Max Weight
Lifespan
Trophic Level
2.7
Depth
0–70 m
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
26.00/100
Typical Length
Depth Zone
pelagic

📖 Overview

Occurs in schools at or near the surface in coastal waters. Feeds on plankton, especially diatoms (filter-feeding). Breeds mainly from June to November, from a length of about 10 cm. Eggs and larvae are planktonic . Mainly used for fishmeal.

Scientific Name
Strangomera bentincki
Authority
Norman, 1936
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
28.4 cm
Depth Range
0–70 m
Trophic Level
2.7
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
26.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 21; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 23. Belly not strongly keeled . Body dark blue dorsally and silvery white ventrally. Fins translucent .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Araucanian herring is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Araucanian herring is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Spawn Location
Demersal
Size at Maturity
10.5cm TL

Apparently releases planktonic eggs (similar to the demersal eggs of northern hemisphere Clupea).

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 0 - 70 m . Subtropical; 30°S - 37°S, 74°W - 70°W Southeast Pacific: Coquimbo, Valparaiso and south to Talcahuano, Chile; perhaps reaches further south to Mocha Island, but more southerly records may refer to Sprattus fuegensis.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🐟 Pelagic
Feeding Mode
Filter-feed
Trophic Level
2.7±0.3
🐠 Schooling
Food Items

plankton, especially diatoms (filter-feeding)

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00589 × L3.11 (TL)
Max TL
28.4cm
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
26.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
2.7
Omnivore / Planktivore
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Norman, 1936

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Araucanian herring · Chilean herring
🌍CES sardinka Bentickova
🇩🇰Danish Chilensk sild
🇯🇵Japanese ベンティンクニシン
🇷🇺Russian Чилийская сельдь

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Clupea bentincki Norman 1936 Synonym
Clupea bentincki cuga de Buen 1958 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 3 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet — be the first to log one!

View all observations for Araucanian herring ↗
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.