Marine Life

Bluestripe herring

Gumbalha

Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus

Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus forms large schools during the day in shallow lagoons, often in association with schools of Bigeye scad. It was previously recorded as Sardenella melanura in the Catalogue of Fishes of Maldives, Vol. 1, page 52, and is sometimes used as livebait in the tuna fishery.

Details

§ 01

size: Max. 14 cm
color: Back bluish green without spots. Flanks silvery with an electric blue line preceded by two orange spots.
order: Clupeiformes
family: Clupeidae
image url: https://assets.explore.mv/fishes/herklotsichthys-quadrimaculatus.png
habitat and biology: During the day, large groups of fish congregate in shallow lagoons. At night, they move into deeper water and feed mainly on zooplankton.
distinctive characters: This fish has a dorsal fin with 17-20 rays, an anal fin with 17-19 rays, and a pectoral fin with 15-16 rays. It has a fusiform and moderately slender body with a body depth of 3.3-5.5 in standard length, and its belly has distinct scutes. The top of its head has few fronto-parietal striae, and it has broad wing-like scales that are almost hidden beneath the overlapping predorsal scales.