Southern Herring, Herklotsichthys castelnaui (Ogilby 1897)
Other Names: Castelnau's Herring, Estuary Herring, Pilcher, Sprat, Striped Herring
Southern Herring, Herklotsichthys castelnaui, in Red Rock Estuary, New South Wales, July 2011. Source: Ian Shaw / iNaturalist.org. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial
Summary:
A bluish-green herring becoming silvery below, with three golden-brown streaks or stripes along the back, a brownish patch or spot behind the upper part of the gill opening in adults, and blackish tips on the dorsal fin and upper lobe of the caudal fin.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2025, Herklotsichthys castelnaui in Fishes of Australia, accessed 08 Jun 2026, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2054
Southern Herring, Herklotsichthys castelnaui (Ogilby 1897)
More Info
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Distribution |
Northern Queensland to at least Gippsland Lakes Victoria; also possibly at Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. Forms dense schools in estuarine and coastal waters, migrating annually up and down eastern Australia. Adults migrate from coastal waters into the upper reaches of estuaries to spawn during summer and autumn. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin 16-19; Anal fin 17-21; Pectoral fin 15-16; Caudal fin 19; Pelvic fin 8; Scale rows (oblique) 37-40. Body deep, very compressed esp. ventrally, depth 29-41% SL; front and rear of the eye with narrow strips of transparent adipose tissue; mouth reaching almost to below centre of eye; teeth absent. Scales compressed, body with a serrated keel along underside only; anal fin of moderate length, last few rays not elongate; pectoral and pelvic fins with fleshy axillary tissue; pelvic fin below middle of dorsal fin. |
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Fisheries |
A popular baitfish in Queensland and New South Wales - taken in estuarine trawl fisheries, often as bycatch in prawn trawl fisheries. |
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Etymology |
The species is named for French naturalist and Consul General to Melbourne, Francis de Laporte de Castelnau, who worked on Australian fishes during the 1870s. |
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Species Citation |
Kowala castelnaui Ogilby 1897, Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 22(1): 66. Type locality: Sydney, New South Wales. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2025 |
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Resources |
Southern Herring, Herklotsichthys castelnaui (Ogilby 1897)
References
Gaughan, D., Munroe, T.A. & Mohd Arshaad, W. 2017. Herklotsichthys castelnaui. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T98472387A98846416. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T98472387A98846416.en. Accessed on 30 September 2025.
Gomon, M.F. 1994. Families Halosauridae, Notacanthidae, Clupeidae, Engraulidae, Gonorynchidae, Plotosidae, Salmonidae. pp. 215-231 figs 192-206 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs.
Grant, E.M. 2002. Guide to Fishes. Redcliffe : EM Grant Pty Ltd 880 pp.
Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp.
Munroe, T.A., Wongratana, T. & Nizinski, M.S. 1999. Family Clupeidae. pp. 1775-1821 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1397-2068.
Ogilby, J.D. 1897. New genera and species of Australian fishes. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 22(1): 62-95. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/12704
Prokop, F. 2002. Australian Fish Guide. Croydon South, Victoria : Australian Fishing Network 256 pp.
Whitehead, P.J.P. 1985. FAO species catalog. Clupeoid fishes of the world (suborder Clupeoidei). Part 1 — Chirocentridae, Clupeidae and Pristigasteridae. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125 Vol. 7 Pt 1. pp. 1-303
