Natural History

Clupeidae

Clupeidae is a family of clupeiform ray-finned fishes, comprising, for instance, the herrings and sprats. Many members of the family have a body protected with shiny cycloid (very smooth and uniform) scales, a single dorsal fin, and a fusiform body for quick, evasive swimming and pursuit of prey composed of small planktonic animals. Due to their small size and position in the lower trophic level of many marine food webs, the levels of methylmercury they bioaccumulate are very low, reducing the risk of mercury poisoning when consumed. The earliest known fossil members of this group are the stem-clupeids Italoclupea and Lecceclupea from the late Campanian/early Maastrichtian of Italy.

Also on this shelf

See also

• ▸Calliphoridae
• ▸Chacachacare
• ▸Arizona/New Mexico Mountains ecoregion

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