General Description
Body is long, slender and compressed (narrow from side to side). Dorsal fin is short-based. Belly and area before the dorsal fin has thick overlapping scales forming a slightly serrated keel. Body is sandy-coloured with a broad silver stripe along the sides. Body up to 10 cm.
Biology
These small short-lived schooling baitfish are commercially fished in some areas, and are often sold as bait to recreational anglers.
Distribution
Eastern, southern and western Australia
Habitat
Inshore coastal waters, sheltered bays and estuaries, in depths of 0-29 m
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Brief Id
Small slender translucent fish with a silver stripe along the side, and a slightly serrated bony keel along the belly.
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Colours
trranslucent, Silver
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Maximum Size
10 cm
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Habitats
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Diet
Omnivore
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Diet Categories
Plankton
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Commercial
Yes
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Depths
Shallow (1-30 m)
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Water Column Locations
Midwater
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Taxon Name
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Scientific Author
(Castelnau, 1875)
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Common Name
Sandy Sprat
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Kingdom
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Phylum
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Subphylum
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Superclass
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Class
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Order
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Family
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Genus
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Species Name
vittatus