Araucanian herring

Araucanian herring (Strangomera bentincki) is a species of fish in the family Clupeidae, the herrings and sardines. It is native to the southeastern Pacific Ocean, particularly along the coasts of Chile and Peru.

Description

The Araucanian herring is a small, silvery fish that typically measures between 10 and 15 centimeters in length. It has a streamlined body adapted for fast swimming and a single dorsal fin. Like other members of the Clupeidae family, it has a protruding lower jaw and large, round eyes.

Distribution and habitat

The Araucanian herring is found in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, from northern Peru to southern Chile. It is a pelagic species, meaning it lives in the open ocean rather than near the coast or the ocean floor. It is most commonly found in the Humboldt Current, a cold, nutrient-rich ocean current that flows north along the western coast of South America.

Diet

The diet of the Araucanian herring consists primarily of plankton, small crustaceans, and fish larvae. It is a filter feeder, using its gill rakers to strain food particles from the water.

Reproduction

Araucanian herrings are spawning fish. Females release their eggs into the water, where they are fertilized by males. The eggs then float freely in the water until they hatch.

Economic importance

The Araucanian herring is commercially fished in Chile and Peru. It is used for human consumption, both fresh and canned, and also for fishmeal and oil.

Conservation status

The Araucanian herring is not currently considered threatened or endangered. However, overfishing and changes in ocean temperatures due to climate change could potentially impact its populations in the future.

See also

• List of fish in Chile
• List of fish in Peru