Herring

The herring is a type of small oily fish found in the temperate, shallow waters of the North Atlantic. A smaller variant called the baltic herring lives in the Baltic Sea.

Morphology

All of the nearly 200 species of herring in the family clupeidae share similar distinguishing features. They are silvery colored fish that have a single dorsal fin. Unlike most other fish, they have soft dorsal fins that lack spines, though some species have pointed scales that form a serrated keel. They have no lateral line and also have a protruding lower jaw somewhat like a bulldogs. Their overall size varies greatly from species to species; the Atlantic herring can grow to about 18 inches in length and weigh up to 1.5 pounds as compared to the Tropical Tarpon (Tarpon Atlanticus) which can grow to a length of 80 inches (approx 8 feet) and weigh up to 200 pounds (91 kg).

Related Topics:
Clupeidae - Dorsal fin - Keel - Lateral line - Pounds - Tropical Tarpon

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