''Sprattus'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of small
oily fish
Oily fish are fish species with fish oil, oil (fats) in soft tissues and in the coelomic cavity around the Gut (zoology), gut. Their fillet (cut), fillets may contain up to 30% oil, although this figure varies both within and between species. ...
of the
family
Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
Clupeidae
Clupeidae is a family of clupeiform ray-finned fishes, comprising, for instance, the herrings and sprats. Many members of the family have a body protected with shiny cycloid (very smooth and uniform) scales, a single dorsal fin, and a fusiform ...
. They are more usually known by their
common name
In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often con ...
,
sprat
Sprat is the common name applied to a group of forage fish belonging to the genus ''Sprattus'' in the Family (biology), family Clupeidae. The term also is applied to a number of other small sprat-like forage fish (''Clupeoides'', ''Clupeonella ...
s. There are five species in the genus.
Species
* ''
Sprattus antipodum''
(Hector
In Greek mythology, Hector (; , ) was a Trojan prince, a hero and the greatest warrior for Troy during the Trojan War. He is a major character in Homer's ''Iliad'', where he leads the Trojans and their allies in the defense of Troy, killing c ...
, 1872) (New Zealand blueback sprat)
* ''
Sprattus fuegensis''
( Jenyns, 1842) (Fueguian sprat)
* ''
Sprattus muelleri
The New Zealand sprat (''Sprattus muelleri'') is a herring-like, Marine (ocean), marine fish in the family (biology), family Clupeidae found in the subtropical southwest Pacific Ocean endemic to New Zealand. It belongs to a genus ''Sprattus'' of ...
''
( Klunzinger, 1879) (New Zealand sprat)
* ''
Sprattus novaehollandiae
The Australian sprat (''Sprattus novaehollandiae'') is a sprat fish whose habitat ranges in the waters surrounding Australia including Tasmania. It is a pelagic fish which is found in anti-tropical, temperate water. It is a part of the Clupeidae ...
''
(Valenciennes
Valenciennes (, also , , ; ; or ; ) is a communes of France, commune in the Nord (French department), Nord Departments of France, department, Hauts-de-France, France.
It lies on the Scheldt () river. Although the city and region experienced ...
, 1847) (Australian sprat)
* ''
Sprattus sprattus
The European sprat (''Sprattus sprattus''), also known as brisling, brisling sardine, bristling, garvie, garvock, Russian sardine, russlet, skipper or whitebait, is a species of small marine fish in the herring family Clupeidae. Found in European ...
''
(Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus (23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné,#Blunt, Blunt (2004), p. 171. was a Swedish biologist and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the modern system of naming o ...
, 1758
Events
January–March
* January 1 – Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus (Carl von Linné) publishes in Stockholm the first volume (''Animalia'') of the 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae'', the starting point of modern zoologic ...
) (European sprat)
**The most common species of Sprat that is discussed in research is the ''Sprattus sprattus'', mostly because of its prevalence in the Baltic Sea.
References
*
* Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, ''Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand'', (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982)
{{Authority control
Clupeidae
Marine fish genera