| Family: |
Ehiravidae (River sprats) |
| Max. size: |
14.5 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 23.0 g; max. reported age: 8 years |
| Environment: |
pelagic; brackish; depth range - 32 m, oceanodromous |
| Distribution: |
Former USSR and Asia: central and southern parts of the Caspian Sea. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-21; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 12-23. Body moderately slender; head long and narrow; belly sharply keeled, with 26 to 32 scutes; pectoral fin tips rounded; last two anal fin rays enlarged; pterotic bulla absent; no notch at the center of the upper jaw. |
| Biology: |
Schools in the open sea, not approaching shores. Occurs mainly in the south in winter, migrating to the middle parts of the sea in spring and returning south in November-December. Found in upper layers in March-April, but descends to 16 to 32 m in summer and autumn. Feeds mainly on copepods, also pelagic mysids and small fishes. Breeds in January-September intermittently in the open sea. Stocks said to be depleted in southern part of Caspian Sea. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 17 July 2017 (A2bde) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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