Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Clupeiformes (Herrings) >
Chirocentridae (Wolf herring)
Etymology: Chirocentrus: Greek, cheir = hand + Greek, kentron = sting (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; amphidromous (Ref. 51243); depth range ? - 120 m (Ref. 30573). Tropical, preferred 27°C (Ref. 107945); 35°N - 20°S, 40°E - 156°E (Ref. 55462)
Indo-Pacific: probably throughout the warmer coastal waters, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia. Recently reported from Tonga (Ref. 53797).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 100.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 188); 36.6 cm SL (female); common length : 60.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5450)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 0;
Anal
spines: 0. Scales numerous, small, usually lost. Silvery; back bright blue (fading to grey); flanks bright silver. The slightly shorter pectoral fin and the black marking of the upper part of the dorsal fin are the only satisfactory characters separating this species from C. nudus (Ref. 188). Fins spineless; with numerous dagger-like teeth (Ref. 37816).
Occurs inshore, including brackish waters (Ref. 12743). Voracious predators of small schooling fishes, e.g., herrings and anchovies (Ref. 37816). In Australia, it was reported in water temperatures of 26.0-29.0 °C (Ref. 4959). Feeds mainly on small fishes, but perhaps also crustaceans. Marketed fresh, frozen or dried and salted.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Whitehead, P.J.P., 1985. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 7. Clupeoid fishes of the world (suborder Clupeioidei). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the herrings, sardines, pilchards, sprats, shads, anchovies and wolf-herrings. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(7/1):1-303. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 188)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; bait: usually
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