Southern Herring

Herklotsichthys castelnaui

Southern Herring, belonging to the family Dorosomatidae, are small pelagic fish found in the Southwest Pacific, particularly along the eastern coast of Australia from Queensland to New South Wales. They are known to inhabit marine, freshwater, and brackish environments, typically in estuarine and coastal waters. Divers may encounter them at depths ranging from the surface to 50 meters, although they are most commonly found shallower than 10 meters. This species can be distinguished from other Australian Herklotsichthys by the absence of spots on its flanks and the presence of three distinct dark lines on its upper flank. The Southern Herring also features a black upper caudal tip and a dorsal fin with a pale band. They have a fusiform, compressed body shape and can grow up to 20 cm in length, with a more common size being around 14 cm. Southern Herrings are schooling fish, often seen in large groups. They undergo spawning migrations from coastal waters to the upper reaches of estuaries during summer and autumn, where they breed oviparously. The IUCN lists them as Least Concern.