Herrings & anchovies

221 species · 4 families

Herrings and anchovies are slender, silvery schooling fish of open water, recognised by their smooth, easily shed scales and the lack of a lateral line. They swim in vast schools and feed mostly on zooplankton that they filter from the water. As the link between plankton and predator, they form the base of many marine food chains. Well-known species include herring, sardine, sprat and anchovy — of great economic importance for centuries. They live in coastal and open seas across almost the whole world.

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Agone

Alosa agone

Clupeidae

Alewife

Alosa pseudoharengus

Clupeidae

Allis shad

Alosa alosa

Clupeidae

Amazon hatchet herring

Pristigaster cayana

Pristigasteridae

Amazon ilisha

Ilisha amazonica

Pristigasteridae

Amazon pellona

Pellona castelnaeana

Pristigasteridae

Amazon spinejaw sprat

Rhinosardinia amazonica

Clupeidae

American coastal pellona

Pellona harroweri

Pristigasteridae

American gizzard shad

Dorosoma cepedianum

Clupeidae

American shad

Alosa sapidissima

Clupeidae

Anchoveta

Engraulis ringens

Engraulidae

Anchovies (Coilia nasus)

Engraulidae

Anchovies (Engraulis mordax)

Engraulidae

Anchovies (Coilia mystus)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Cetengraulis edentulus)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Lycengraulis batesii)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Anchoviella lepidentostole)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Encrasicholina punctifer)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Stolephorus commersonnii)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Anchoa compressa)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Anchoa lucida)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Coilia dussumieri)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Anchoa lamprotaenia)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Anchovia macrolepidota)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Anchoa parva)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Anchoa curta)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Encrasicholina heteroloba)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Thryssa setirostris)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Anchoa nasus)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Cetengraulis mysticetus)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Anchoa panamensis)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Stolephorus indicus)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Anchoviella perfasciata)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Lycengraulis grossidens)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Anchoa exigua)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Thryssa mystax)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Anchoa ischana)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Anchoa spinifer)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Anchovia surinamensis)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Stolephorus tri)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Pterengraulis atherinoides)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Anchovia clupeoides)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Engraulis eurystole)

Engraulidae

Anchovy (Anchoa argentivittata)

Engraulidae

Anchovy kilka

Clupeonella engrauliformis

Clupeidae

Ansorge fangtooth pellonuline

Odaxothrissa ansorgii

Clupeidae

Aol

Spratelloides delicatulus

Clupeidae

Apia anchovy

Stolephorus apiensis

Engraulidae

Araucanian herring

Strangomera bentincki

Clupeidae

Argentine anchoita

Engraulis anchoita

Engraulidae

Atlantic herring

Clupea harengus

Clupeidae

Atlantic menhaden

Brevoortia tyrannus

Clupeidae

Atlantic piquitinga

Lile piquitinga

Clupeidae

Atlantic thread herring

Opisthonema oglinum

Clupeidae

Australian anchovy

Engraulis australis

Engraulidae

Australian freshwater herring

Potamalosa richmondia

Clupeidae

Australian river gizzard shad

Nematalosa erebi

Clupeidae

Australian sprat

Sprattus novaehollandiae

Clupeidae

Azov kilka

Clupeonella cultriventris

Clupeidae

Baelama anchovy

Thryssa baelama

Engraulidae

Balboa anchovy

Anchoviella balboae

Engraulidae

Bali sardinella

Sardinella lemuru

Clupeidae

Baltic sprat

Sprattus sprattus

Clupeidae

Banded blue sprat

Spratelloides gracilis

Clupeidae

Banded ilisha

Ilisha striatula

Pristigasteridae

Bay anchovy

Anchoa mitchilli

Engraulidae

Big-eyed herring

Pellona ditchela

Pristigasteridae

Bigscale pellonuline

Microthrissa congica

Clupeidae

Blackbill sprat

Harengula clupeola

Clupeidae

Blackfin wolf herring

Chirocentrus dorab

Chirocentridae

Blacksaddle herring

Herklotsichthys dispilonotus

Clupeidae

Blackstrip sardinella

Sardinella melanura

Clupeidae

Bleeker's smoothbelly sardinella

Amblygaster clupeoides

Clupeidae

Bloch's gizzard shad

Nematalosa nasus

Clupeidae

Blue back

Clupea pallasii

Clupeidae

Blue fry

Jenkinsia lamprotaenia

Clupeidae

Blue herring

Alosa chrysochloris

Clupeidae

Blue sardine (Spratelloides robustus)

Clupeidae

Blue sardine (Amblygaster leiogaster)

Clupeidae

Blueback glut herring

Alosa aestivalis

Clupeidae

Blueline herring

Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus

Clupeidae

Bluntnosed sawtooth pellonuline

Potamothrissa obtusirostris

Clupeidae

Bonejack

Alosa mediocris

Clupeidae

Bonga

Ethmalosa fimbriata

Clupeidae

Bony bream

Anodontostoma chacunda

Clupeidae

Bornean grenadier anchovy

Coilia borneensis

Engraulidae

Borneo river sprat

Clupeoides borneensis

Clupeidae

Brazilian menhaden

Brevoortia aurea

Clupeidae

Broad-striped anchovy

Anchoa hepsetus

Engraulidae

Buccaneer anchovy

Encrasicholina purpurea

Engraulidae

Burmese river shad

Gudusia variegata

Clupeidae

Caspian deepwater kilka

Clupeonella grimmi

Clupeidae

Caspian shad

Alosa caspia

Clupeidae

Castelnau's herring

Herklotsichthys castelnaui

Clupeidae

Cayenne anchovy

Anchoviella cayennensis

Engraulidae

Chefoo thryssa

Thryssa chefuensis

Engraulidae

Chinese gizzard shad

Clupanodon thrissa

Clupeidae

Chinese herring

Ilisha elongata

Pristigasteridae

Common hairfin anchovy

Setipinna tenuifilis

Engraulidae

Cuban anchovy

Anchoa cubana

Engraulidae

Deep herring

Escualosa thoracata

Clupeidae

Deep-bodied Pacific thread herring

Opisthonema libertate

Clupeidae

Deep-bodied sardine

Sardinella albella

Clupeidae

Dogtooth herring

Chirocentrodon bleekerianus

Pristigasteridae

Dotted gizzard shad

Konosirus punctatus

Clupeidae

Dove's longfin herring

Opisthopterus dovii

Pristigasteridae

Dussumier's thryssa

Thryssa dussumieri

Engraulidae

Dwarf herring

Jenkinsia stolifera

Clupeidae

Ecuadorian longfin herring

Opisthopterus equatorialis

Pristigasteridae

Eigenmann's anchovy

Anchoa eigenmannia

Engraulidae

Elongate anchovy

Anchoviella elongata

Engraulidae

Estuarine round-herring

Gilchristella aestuaria

Clupeidae

Estuary thryssa

Thryssa aestuaria

Engraulidae

European pilchard

Sardina pilchardus

Clupeidae

Falkland herring

Sprattus fuegensis

Clupeidae

False anchovy

Thryssa encrasicholoides

Engraulidae

Fimbriated sardine

Sardinella fimbriata

Clupeidae

Finescale menhaden

Brevoortia gunteri

Clupeidae

Five spot herring

Hilsa kelee

Clupeidae

Flatiron herring

Harengula thrissina

Clupeidae

Freshwater sardinella

Sardinella tawilis

Clupeidae

Ganges river sprat

Corica soborna

Clupeidae

Ganges shad

Gudusia chapra

Clupeidae

Gangetic anchovy

Setipinna phasa

Engraulidae

Gizzard shad

Nematalosa come

Clupeidae

Glassy sprat

Hyperlophus translucidus

Clupeidae

Goldstripe sardinella

Sardinella gibbosa

Clupeidae

Graceful herring

Lile gracilis

Clupeidae

Gray's grenadier anchovy

Coilia grayii

Engraulidae

Grenadier anchovy

Coilia neglecta

Engraulidae

Guiana longfin herring

Odontognathus mucronatus

Pristigasteridae

Gulf anchovy

Anchoa helleri

Engraulidae

Gulf menhaden

Brevoortia patronus

Clupeidae

Guyana anchovy

Anchoviella guianensis

Engraulidae

Hamilton's anchovy

Thryssa hamiltonii

Engraulidae

Hardenberg anchovy

Stolephorus insularis

Engraulidae

Hatchet herring

Ilisha fuerthii

Pristigasteridae

Herring

Lile stolifera

Clupeidae

Hualien sardinella

Sardinella hualiensis

Clupeidae

Indian ilisha

Ilisha melastoma

Pristigasteridae

Indian oil sardine

Sardinella longiceps

Clupeidae

Japanese anchovy

Engraulis japonicus

Engraulidae

Japanese gizzard shad

Nematalosa japonica

Clupeidae

Japanese sardinella

Sardinella zunasi

Clupeidae

Jenyns's sprat

Ramnogaster arcuata

Clupeidae

Kammal thryssa

Thryssa kammalensis

Engraulidae

Lake Mweru sprat

Microthrissa moeruensis

Clupeidae

Lake Tanganyika sardine (Stolothrissa tanganicae)

Clupeidae

Lake Tanganyika sardine (Limnothrissa miodon)

Clupeidae

Lake Tumba dwarf sprat

Nannothrissa parva

Clupeidae

Little-eye Herring

Jenkinsia majua

Clupeidae

Longfin gizzard shad

Dorosoma anale

Clupeidae

Longfin Pacific anchovy

Anchoa analis

Engraulidae

Longfinger anchovy

Anchoa filifera

Engraulidae

Longtail shad

Tenualosa macrura

Clupeidae

Loose-scaled sardine

Harengula humeralis

Clupeidae

Losera fangtooth pellonuline

Odaxothrissa losera

Clupeidae

Losse's herring

Herklotsichthys lossei

Clupeidae

Madagascar round herring

Sauvagella madagascariensis

Clupeidae

Madeiran sardinella

Sardinella maderensis

Clupeidae

Mai-ndombe dwarf sprat

Nannothrissa stewarti

Clupeidae

Malabar anchovy

Thryssa malabarica

Engraulidae

Malabar sprat

Ehirava fluviatilis

Clupeidae

Manamo anchovy

Anchoviella manamensis

Engraulidae

Marini's anchovy

Anchoa marinii

Engraulidae

Mauritian sardinella

Sardinella jussieu

Clupeidae

Menhaden

Brevoortia smithi

Clupeidae

Middling thread herring

Opisthonema medirastre

Clupeidae

Narrowstriped anchovy

Anchoa colonensis

Engraulidae

Nelson's anchovy

Stolephorus nelsoni

Engraulidae

New Zealand sprat (Sprattus antipodum)

Clupeidae

New Zealand sprat (Sprattus muelleri)

Clupeidae

Nigerian fangtooth pellonuline

Odaxothrissa mento

Clupeidae

Northern pilchard

Amblygaster sirm

Clupeidae

Oblique-jaw thryssa

Thryssa purava

Engraulidae

Orangemouth anchovy

Thryssa vitrirostris

Engraulidae

Pacific gizzard shad

Dorosoma smithi

Clupeidae

Pacific menhaden

Ethmidium maculatum

Clupeidae

Pacific sabretooth anchovy

Lycengraulis poeyi

Engraulidae

Pacific thread herring

Opisthonema bulleri

Clupeidae

Panama longfin herring

Odontognathus panamensis

Pristigasteridae

Papuan anchovy

Papuengraulis micropinna

Engraulidae

Pellonula

Pellonula vorax

Clupeidae

no photo

Persistent anchovy

Anchoa walkeri

Engraulidae

Perth herring

Nematalosa vlaminghi

Clupeidae

Phantom anchovy

Anchoa tricolor

Engraulidae

Philippine anchovy

Encrasicholina oligobranchus

Engraulidae

Pontic shad

Alosa immaculata

Clupeidae

Pygmy Amazon anchovy

Amazonsprattus scintilla

Engraulidae

Raconda

Raconda russeliana

Pristigasteridae

Rio anchovy

Anchoa januaria

Engraulidae

Round sardinella

Sardinella aurita

Clupeidae

Roundbelly pellonuline

Laeviscutella dekimpei

Clupeidae

Roux's sardinella

Sardinella rouxi

Clupeidae

Royal sprat

Microthrissa royauxi

Clupeidae

Scaled sardine

Harengula jaguana

Clupeidae

Scaly hairfin anchovy

Setipinna taty

Engraulidae

Scofield's anchovy

Anchoa scofieldi

Engraulidae

Shad

Pellona flavipinnis

Pristigasteridae

Sharpnosed sawtooth pellonuline

Potamothrissa acutirostris

Clupeidae

Sharptooth round herring

Spratellomorpha bianalis

Clupeidae

Shortfinger anchovy

Anchoa lyolepis

Engraulidae

Shorttail thryssa

Thryssa brevicauda

Engraulidae

Smalltoothed pellonula

Pellonula leonensis

Clupeidae

Smoothbelly pellonuline

Congothrissa gossei

Clupeidae

Snubnose anchovy (Anchoviella brevirostris)

Engraulidae

Snubnose anchovy (Anchoa choerostoma)

Engraulidae

South American pilchard

Sardinops sagax

Clupeidae

Spotback herring

Herklotsichthys punctatus

Clupeidae

Spotty-face anchovy

Stolephorus waitei

Engraulidae

Starks's anchovy

Anchoa starksi

Engraulidae

Threadfin shad

Dorosoma petenense

Clupeidae

Toli shad

Tenualosa toli

Clupeidae

Tropical longfin herring

Neoopisthopterus tropicus

Pristigasteridae

Twaite shad

Alosa fallax

Clupeidae

West African ilisha

Ilisha africana

Pristigasteridae

West African pygmy herring

Sierrathrissa leonensis

Clupeidae

Whitefin wolf-herring

Chirocentrus nudus

Chirocentridae

Yangtse grenadier anchovy

Coilia brachygnathus

Engraulidae

Yellowfin herring

Pliosteostoma lutipinnis

Pristigasteridae