Sprat
D-Sprotte; GB-Sprat, european sprat; DK-Brisling; PL-Szprot; LT-Šprotas; LV-Brētliņa; EST-Kilu, läänemere kilu; RU-Европейский шпрот; FIN-Kilohaili; S-Skarpsill
Characters
1) Mouth opening not reaching height of caudal eye edge.
2) Abdominal keel serrated.
3) Origin of pelvic fins before origin of dorsal fin.
●) Mouth superios (lower jaw overlapping maxilla).
Often about 12 cm length, max. up to 16 cm length.
Similar species
Herring - pelvic fin starts posterior of dorsal fin origin; belly not serrated.
European anchovy - mouth clearly inferior.
Allis shad - mouth larger, reaching beyond posterior margin of eye.
Twaite shad - mouth larger, reaching beyond posterior margin of eye.
Biology
Live in stocks in free waters near the coast; often in 5 to 50 m depth; during day time near to the ground, at night ascending to the surface. Often become sexually mature with 2 years.Diet
They feed on zooplankton: often crustanceans and their larvae.Importance
Commercially of high importance as food fish, as bait fish, in fish oil and fish meal production.Endangerment
Not endangered.Sprattus sprattus
