Hyperlophus vittatus (Castelnau, 1875)
Sandy sprat
photo by Yau, B.

Family:  Clupeidae (Herrings, shads, sardines, menhadens)
Max. size:  10 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; brackish; marine; depth range 10 - 13 m, amphidromous
Distribution:  Western Pacific: southern Australia, from Kalbarri, Western Australia to South Australia, New South Wales and Moreton Bay, Queensland.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-18; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 16-27. Body fairly elongate, belly keeled, with 19 to 24 - 10 to 13 scutes; 23 to 27 dorsal scutes with low keels from head to dorsal fin origin. Second supra-maxilla paddle-shaped, lower portion larger. Branchiostegal rays 4. Anal fin origin an eye diameter or more behind base of last dorsal fin ray. Scales more or less firm on body; a silvery band along flank.
Biology:  Schools in large numbers in shallow sandy areas of bays and estuaries.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 28 February 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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