The Dwarf Round Herring, scientifically known as Jenkinsia lamprotaenia, is a small, silvery fish belonging to the Spratelloididae family. These fish are commonly found in coastal waters and are known for their distinctive, round body shape.
Description & Characteristics
The Dwarf Round Herring is a small fish, reaching a maximum size of 7.5 cm. Its body is deep and compressed, giving it a distinctly round appearance. Jenkinsia lamprotaenia is characterized by its silvery scales, which are often iridescent, reflecting light in a variety of colors. This fish also possesses a single dorsal fin located near the middle of its back.
Habitat and Occurrence
Jenkinsia lamprotaenia inhabits a wide range of coastal habitats, including estuaries, bays, and nearshore waters. These fish are typically found in waters with depths ranging from 0.0 to 50.0 meters, making them residents of the epipelagic zone, the uppermost layer of the ocean. The Dwarf Round Herring is commonly encountered in marine zones such as the neritic zone, the region of the ocean that extends from the shoreline out to the edge of the continental shelf.
Taxonomy
The Dwarf Round Herring, Jenkinsia lamprotaenia, belongs to the Spratelloididae family, which is part of the Clupeiformes order within the Teleostei class. This classification places Jenkinsia lamprotaenia within a diverse group of fishes that includes herring, sardines, and anchovies.
Feeding
Jenkinsia lamprotaenia is a filter feeder, relying on krill and zooplankton as its primary food sources. These tiny organisms are filtered from the water column using specialized gill rakers, structures that line the gills of the fish. The Dwarf Round Herring plays an important role in the marine ecosystem, helping to control populations of smaller organisms that form the base of the food web.
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