Gilchristella
| Gilchristella aestuaria | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Clupeiformes |
| Family: | Ehiravidae |
| Genus: | Gilchristella Fowler, 1935 |
| Species: | G. aestuaria
|
| Binomial name | |
| Gilchristella aestuaria (Gilchrist, 1913)
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Spratelloides aestuarius Gilchrist, 1913 | |
Gilchristella aestuaria, the Gilchrist's round herring or estuarine round-herring,[2] is a member of the family Ehiravidae that occurs off the coasts of Southern Africa. It is the only species in its genus, which was named for John Dow Fisher Gilchrist (1866–1926).[3]
Information
[edit]There are no indications of major threats to this species. It is considered to be of least concern for becoming an endangered species.[1]
Size
[edit]The average length of the G. aestuaria as an unsexed male is about ten centimeters.[4]
Habitat
[edit]The Gilchristella aestuaria can be found in a marine environment and in freshwater. The habitat is located in subtropical climates. This species is primarily found in estuaries, lagoons, lakes, and rivers.[4] It is considered an extremely important fish in estuaries of South Africa .[5] This small sardine-like fish lives in large shoals and provides an important link in the food chain as a food source to larger fish and water birds.[5] This fish does not survive in an aquarium, presumably dying from capture myopathy or stress.[5]
Distribution
[edit]The Gilchristella aestuaria is distributed throughout the following areas:
- Africa
- Lake Piti
- Mozambique
- Southern African coast
- Saldanha Bay
- Orange River[4]
- Namibia
- South Africa
- Eastern Cape Province
- KwaZulu-Natal
- Northern Cape Province [1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Bills, R. (2007). "Gilchristella aestuaria". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007: e.T63245A12644478. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63245A12644478.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "Gilchristella aestuaria Estuarine round-herring". Animal Diversity. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
- ^ "John Dow Fisher Gilchrist". Neglected Science. 2011. Archived from the original on 22 February 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- ^ a b c "Gilchristella aestuaria". Fish Base. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
- ^ a b c Paul Skelton (1993). A Complete Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Southern Africa. Southern Book Publishers. p. 390. ISBN 1-86812-350-2.
External links
[edit]- Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Gilchristella aestuaria". FishBase. June 2011 version.
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