Family CHIROCENTRIDAE
Wolf Herrings, Wolf-herrings
Compiler and date details
John R. Paxton, Jennifer E. Gates & Dianne J. Bray
Introduction
Members of the Chirocentridae are found in the tropical waters of the Indian and west-central Pacific Oceans from South Africa to southern Japan and Fiji. One genus and two species are recognised. Both species have been recorded from Australia and are treated in Munroe et al. (1999).
Although related to the Clupeidae and Engraulidae, wolf herrings have large canine teeth in the jaws and lack scutes on the belly. These voracious predators may attain 1.7 m in length, although Australian specimens rarely reach 1.5 m.
Chirocentrids have not been reviewed comprehensively, although Whitehead (1974, 1985) summarised the differences between the two recognised species. Grande (1985) questioned the relationships with clupeiform fishes.
General References
Grande, L. 1985. Recent and fossil clupeomorph fishes with materials for revision of the subgroups of clupeoids. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 181(2): 231-372
Munroe, T.A., Nizinski, M.S. & Wongratana, T. 1999. Family Chirocentridae. pp. 1771-1774 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1397-2068.
Common Name References
Munroe, T.A., Nizinski, M.S. & Wongratana, T. 1999. Family Chirocentridae. pp. 1771-1774 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1397-2068. [1773] (FAO) (Wolf-herrings)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |