''Platanichthys platana'', the Rio Plata sprat, is a very small species of fish belonging to the

herring Herring are forage fish, mostly belonging to the family of Clupeidae. Herring often move in large schools around fishing banks and near the coast, found particularly in shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and North Atlantic Ocea ...

family, Clupeidae. It is endemic to

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the souther ...

. It is the only species in its genus.

Environment

''Platanichthys platana'' is recorded to be found in a freshwater environment within a pelagic depth range. Although it is recorded to live in a freshwater environment, it lives in brackish water, which is defined as slightly salty water. This species is native to a subtropical climate.

Size

''P. platana'' can reach the maximum recorded length of about 6.7 centimeters or about 2.63 inches as an unsexed male. The common length of this species is about 5 centimeters or about 1.96 inches.

Distribution

''P. platana'' is recorded to occupy the areas of Rio de Janeiro, Brazi, Uruguay, and Argentina. They live more specifically in the areas of brackish waters of lagoons, estuaries, and the lower reaches of rivers.

References

Notes

* Clupeidae Taxa named by Charles Tate Regan Fish of South America Fish described in 1917 Monotypic fish genera Monotypic freshwater fish genera Monotypic ray-finned fish genera {{Clupeiformes-stub