Sprat

Sprat is a common name applied to a group of forage fish belonging to the genus Sprattus in the family Clupeidae. The term is also applied to a number of other small sprat-like forage fish. Like most forage fishes, sprats are highly active, small, oily fish. They travel in large schools with other fish and swim continuously throughout the day.

Species

There are five recognised species in the genus Sprattus:

• Sprattus sprattus (European sprat)
• Sprattus antipodum (New Zealand sprat)
• Sprattus fuegensis (Fuegian sprat)
• Sprattus muelleri (Kerguelen sprat)
• Sprattus novaehollandiae (Australian sprat)

Characteristics

Sprats are small, oily fish that are silver-blue in color with a white underbelly. They have a streamlined body with a forked tail and a single dorsal fin. They can reach a maximum length of 16 cm, but they usually measure around 10 cm.

Diet

Sprats are omnivorous fish that feed on both plants and animals. Their diet mainly consists of plankton, small crustaceans, and other tiny sea creatures.

Distribution and habitat

Sprats are found in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea. They prefer temperate waters and are often found in coastal areas and estuaries.

Economic importance

Sprats are commercially fished in many parts of the world. They are often canned or smoked, and are sometimes used as bait in the fishing industry.

See also

• Forage fish
• Clupeidae
• Fisheries

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