Family: PRISTIGASTERIDAE, Longfin herring, Longfin Herrings, Ilishas, Sawbelly Herrings

FAMILY PRISTIGASTERIDAE

LONGFIN HERRINGS, ILISHAS, SAWBELLY HERRINGS

Longfin herrings are small silvery fishes (up to 60 cm, but usually < 25 cm); fusiform to elongate, compressed to strongly compressed; mouth short, ends before eye, usually opens up, otherwise opens at the front; jaw teeth small to minute; a single dorsal fin, over the middle of the body, or, often, at the rear; a forked tail fin; pelvic fins (if present) small, on the abdomen well before dorsal fin; pectoral fins low on the side just behind the head; no fin spines; anal fin relatively long based, 30-92 rays, its origin under or well before dorsal fin base; a keel of scutes (hardened spiny scales) along the midline of the belly; scales smooth.

There are 38 species in 9 genera; 5 species in 5 genera occur in marine to brackish habitats in the Greater Caribbean.