Gizzard Shad

Belly with 18 or 19 (rarely 20) + 10 to 13 (usually 11 or 12), total 29 to 31 (usually 30) scutes. Anterior arm of pre-operculum with fleshy triangular area above, not covered by third infra-orbital bone. Edge of lower jaw strongly flared outward. Pectoral axillary scale well developed. Hind edge of scales not toothed. A dark spot behind gill opening.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 17 - 26

In the Trinity Inlet system, North Queensland the temperature range recorded for this fish was 26.0-29.0 °C (Ref. 4959). A filter-feeder (Ref. 188). More data needed.

fisheries: subsistence fisheries

分布於西太平洋區，北至東中國海、日本、台灣，南至澳洲昆士蘭海域。台灣分布於南部、北部、西部及澎湖海域。

本種魚產量並不大，常混於流利漁獲中，可生鮮、乾製或醃漬出售。主要漁法為流刺網。

體呈長卵圓形，側扁，腹緣具鋸齒狀的稜鱗，16-18+10-13個。頭中大。吻短而鈍。眼側位，脂性眼瞼發達。口亞端位，略為平直；無齒；上頜略突出於下領，上頜骨末端向下彎曲，向後延伸至眼前緣下方。鰓蓋光滑；前鰓蓋骨下支上方有三角形之肌肉。體被橢圓形圓鱗，鱗片後緣之不具鋸齒狀，縱列鱗36左右；背鰭前不具中線鱗；胸鰭和腹鰭基部具腋鱗。背鰭位於體中部前方，具軟條17-18，末端軟條延長如絲；臀鰭起點於背鰭基底後方，具軟條23-25；腹鰭軟條8；尾鰭深叉。體背部綠褐色，體側下方和腹部銀白色；鰓蓋後上方具一大黑斑，其後有數列黑色小點狀縱帶。背鰭、胸鰭、尾鰭淡黃色；餘鰭淡色。

沿近海中上層洄游性中小型魚類，有時會進入河口域、半淡鹼水之河川下游、內灣或潟湖區內產卵。群游性。以浮游生物為食。