Araucanian herring

Strangomera bentincki

Dark blue back with silver belly

Tropical
Southern Hemisphere
Regional distribution
Marine fish
Pacific Ocean
South America
Fusiform
Medium
Tropical fish

The Araucanian herring (Strangomera bentincki or Clupea bentincki) is a species of fish in the family Clupeidae. It is an epipelagic fish, silvery below and dark blue above, which schools in coastal waters off the west coast of South America. It ranges along the Chilean coast from Valparaíso south to Talcahuano.

Class: Teleosts
Order: Herrings
Family: Clupeidae
Genus: Strangomera
Maximum length: 28.4 cm
Water: Marine
Body shape: fusiform
Distribution: Southeast Pacific: Coquimbo, Valparaiso and south to Talcahuano, Chile; perhaps reaches further south to Mocha Island, but more southerly records may refer to Sprattus fuegensis . Subspecies have been noted (Ref. 6698 ): Strangomera bentincki bentincki (Talcahuano southward) and Strangomera bentincki cuga (Valparaiso to Talcahuano).
Conservation status: LCLeast Concern

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