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Raconda (Raconda russeliana) — Pristigasteridae

Raconda

Raconda russeliana

The Raconda (Raconda russeliana) is a brackish-water fish of the family Pristigasteridae that grows up to 19 cm.

Length
19 cm
Water
Brackish
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Raconda is a herring relative (Pristigasteridae) from coastal and estuarine water and lower river reaches of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 20 cm and has a strongly laterally compressed, bright-silvery body with a sharply saw-edged, keeled belly and an almost absent dorsal fin. As a social schooling fish it filters zooplankton and small invertebrates from turbid water. It is locally a food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Raconda?

The Raconda has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Raconda live?

The Raconda lives in brackish water and is mostly found around open water. Asia: Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and others

How big does the Raconda get?

The Raconda grows to a maximum of about 19 cm.

Is the Raconda dangerous to humans?

No, the Raconda is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Raconda edible?

Yes, the Raconda is commonly eaten.

More photos

Raconda (Raconda russeliana) — Pristigasteridae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Jiayuan Lin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Raconda (Raconda russeliana) — Pristigasteridae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Francis Day (Public domain)
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All data

Identification

English name
Raconda sourced
Scientific name
Raconda russeliana
Family
Pristigasteridae
Other names
Raconda; Russell's smoothback herring; Russell's smooth-back herring; Herring; Smooth-back herring verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
19.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Natural range
Asia: Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Can be caught with natural bait or lures, matched to the size and habitat of the species. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Pristigasteridae

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