55.6 Thryssa vitrirostris: 11 em SL.
Family No. 56 : CHIROCENTRIDAE
by P.J.P. Whitehead
Wolfherrings
Wolfharings
Moderate-sized silvery fishes (30-100 cm) with elongate
and highly compressed (almost ribbon-like) bodies; belly
without scutes. Two large canines at front of upper jaw,
pointing forwards; smaller canines behind them and in
lower jaw. Gill-rakers short. Fins without spines; pelvic fins
very small and about midway between pectoral base and
anal fin origin. Scales minute, cycloid, usually shed; no lateralline along flanks. Vertebrae (42-45)+(27-31).
Pelagic inshore fishes , carnivorous, preying on small
fishes; reported to exhibit a feeding frenzy among small herrings and anchovies during night fishing with lights. Should
be handled with caution. Reports of specimens reaching 12
feet (Fowler, 1956; Smith, 1961) are probably unfounded.
Flesh tasty, but very bony. One genus (Indo-Pacific only)
with 2 species.
56.1 Chirocentrus dorab: 33 em.
56: CHIROCENTRIDAE (WOLFHERRINGS)
Genus Chirocentrus Cuvier, 1816
The 2 species were frequently muddled in the past or else
combined under the name C. dorab; they were first convincingly separated by Luther (1966), see also Whitehead
(1973). C. nudus Swainson, 1839 was recorded by Fowler in
1934 (see Smith, SFSA No. 103), but this record was apparently based on C. dorab.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Tip of D and often A black; P length equal to distance
from gill opening to about eye centre . . . . . . . . . . . . .. C. dorab
Ib D and A colourless; P length equal to distance from
gill opening to mid-snout ....... ..... ..... .... C. nudus
Wolfherring
(Not yet recorded from our area)
56.1 Chirocentrus dorab
(Forsskal, 1775)
Wolfharing
Clupea dorab Forsskal, 1775: xiii, 7 (Djedda and Mocha, Red Sea).
Chirocentrus dorab: Smith, SFSA No. 104* (perhaps including C. nudus);
Whitehead, 1973: 167*; Whitehead & Wongratana, 1984: CHIROC
Chi roc 1 *.
D iv-v, 12-14; A iii-iv, 26-32; P i,13-1S; V i,6-7; lower GR 12-16. P
length 11-13% SL.
Back with bands of green and blue, shading through
brassy gold to bright silver flanks; tip of D and front of A
black. Attains 100 cm. East coast, south to Durban.
Elsewhere, widespread in Indo-Pacific, usually occurring
with C. nudus. Flesh delicate but very bony.
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207
Family No. 56 : CHIROCENTRIDAE
by P.J.P. Whitehead
Wolfherrings
Wolfharings
Moderate-sized silvery fishes (30-100 cm) with elongate
and highly compressed (almost ribbon-like) bodies; belly
without scutes. Two large canines at front of upper jaw,
pointing forwards; smaller canines behind them and in
lower jaw. Gill-rakers short. Fins without spines; pelvic fins
very small and about midway between pectoral base and
anal fin origin. Scales minute, cycloid, usually shed; no lateralline along flanks. Vertebrae (42-45)+(27-31).
Pelagic inshore fishes , carnivorous, preying on small
fishes; reported to exhibit a feeding frenzy among small herrings and anchovies during night fishing with lights. Should
be handled with caution. Reports of specimens reaching 12
feet (Fowler, 1956; Smith, 1961) are probably unfounded.
Flesh tasty, but very bony. One genus (Indo-Pacific only)
with 2 species.
56.1 Chirocentrus dorab: 33 em.
56: CHIROCENTRIDAE (WOLFHERRINGS)
Genus Chirocentrus Cuvier, 1816
The 2 species were frequently muddled in the past or else
combined under the name C. dorab; they were first convincingly separated by Luther (1966), see also Whitehead
(1973). C. nudus Swainson, 1839 was recorded by Fowler in
1934 (see Smith, SFSA No. 103), but this record was apparently based on C. dorab.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Tip of D and often A black; P length equal to distance
from gill opening to about eye centre . . . . . . . . . . . . .. C. dorab
Ib D and A colourless; P length equal to distance from
gill opening to mid-snout ....... ..... ..... .... C. nudus
Wolfherring
(Not yet recorded from our area)
56.1 Chirocentrus dorab
(Forsskal, 1775)
Wolfharing
Clupea dorab Forsskal, 1775: xiii, 7 (Djedda and Mocha, Red Sea).
Chirocentrus dorab: Smith, SFSA No. 104* (perhaps including C. nudus);
Whitehead, 1973: 167*; Whitehead & Wongratana, 1984: CHIROC
Chi roc 1 *.
D iv-v, 12-14; A iii-iv, 26-32; P i,13-1S; V i,6-7; lower GR 12-16. P
length 11-13% SL.
Back with bands of green and blue, shading through
brassy gold to bright silver flanks; tip of D and front of A
black. Attains 100 cm. East coast, south to Durban.
Elsewhere, widespread in Indo-Pacific, usually occurring
with C. nudus. Flesh delicate but very bony.
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207