West African pygmy herring

The West African pygmy herring (Sierrathrissa leonensis) is a very small fish, reaching a maximum length of 3 centimetres (1.2 in) SL, is a member of the herring family Clupeidae, and belongs to a radiation of the subfamily Pellonulinae in the freshwater systems of western and central Africa that includes such species as the Microthrissa royauxi of the Congo River basin and Limnothrissa miodon of Lake Tanganyika. It is the only species of its genus.[1]

Sierrathrissa leonensis

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Clupeiformes
Family: Clupeidae
Genus: Sierrathrissa
Species:
S. leonensis[1]
Binomial name
Sierrathrissa leonensis[1]
Thys van den Audenaerde, 1969

Description

A very small fish which shows a reduction in size and some neoteny when compared to its larger relatives.[2]

Habitat and ecology

The West African pygmy herring is found in rivers and man-made lakes. It schools in open waters and to a maximum depth of around 2 to 8 m (6.6 to 26.2 ft); rising to about 30 cm (12 in) from the surface at night in Lake Volta. It feeds on plankton, especially cladocerans.[1]

Distribution

The West African pygmy herring has a widespread but patchy distribution from Senegal to Cameroon. In west Africa it occurs in Senegal River, Gambia River, Bia River, Niger River basin and Wouri River, as well as the man made Lake Volta and Lake Kainji.[3] This species is native to Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Gambia, Senegal and Sierra Leone.[1]

Fisheries and conservation

As the West African pygmy herring has a widespread distribution and it is short lived with high resilience to exploitation, it is therefore listed as Least Concern. In Nigeria this species is subject to some commercial fishing for human consumption.[3]

Taxonomy

The West African pygmy herring was first described from Sierra Leone buth this was somewhat controversial and claims were made that the specimens were nothing more than the unmetamorphosed larva of a species of Pellonula or of Cyanothrissa. However, when fully mature specimens of Sierrathrissa were described at 21-28mm SL it was clear that these were not juveniles of other species.[2]

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References
  1. "Sierrathrissa leonensis Thys van den Audenaerde, 1969 West African pygmy herring". Fishbase. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  2. Whitehead, Peter J.P.; Teugels, Guy G. (1985). "The West African Pygmy Herring Sierrathrissa leonensis: General Features, Visceral Anatomy, and Osteology" (PDF). American Museum Novitates (2835): 1–44.
  3. "ierrathrissa leonensis (West African Pygmy Herring)". International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
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