Chirocentrus dorab

Geographic Range

Blackfin wolf-herrings, Chirocentrus dorab , are found throughout the Indian Ocean, ranging from the eastern shores of Africa to the Solomon Islands. They can be found as far north as southern Japan and as far south as northern Australia.

• Biogeographic Regions
• indian ocean
  • native native
• pacific ocean pacific ocean
  • native native

Habitat

Blackfin wolf-herrings prefer warm coastal waters, often in inland areas. They inhabit brackish and marine waters up to depths of 120 m. This species, however, is most commonly found in turbulent waters at depths from 9 to 28 m. Blackfin wolf-herrings also frequent coral reefs, which are potential hunting grounds.

• Habitat Regions
• saltwater or marine saltwater or marine

• Aquatic Biomes
• reef reef
• coastal coastal
• brackish water brackish water

Physical Description

Blackfin wolf-herrings are narrow elongated fish, so named for the black markings on the upper part of the dorsal fin and the wolf-like canines protruding from their mandible and premaxilla. These black markings set this species apart from its closest relative Chirocentrus nudus , whitefin wolf-herrings. The wide mandible of blackfin wolf-herrings appears to point almost directly upward when their mouth is closed. Members of the family Chirocentridae have been characterized as long herrings. On average, the fork lengths (distance from tip of lower jaw to the fork of caudal fin) of most blackfin wolf-herrings range from 14 to 71 cm. Some blackfin wolf-herrings have been recorded at over 1 meter long. Members of this species generally weigh between 170 and 1200 g.

• Other Physical Features
• heterothermic heterothermic
• bilateral symmetry bilateral symmetry

• Sexual Dimorphism
• sexes alike

Development

Intra-ovarian eggs of blackfin wolf-herrings reach maturity at 50 to 65 millidarcies (measurement of permeability) and are then released by the female. Males typically mature at smaller sizes than females. The growth rate remains constant in males until they reach 30 cm and in females until they reach 40 cm, after which there is a marked decline in growth rate.

Reproduction

Blackfin wolf-herrings reproduce by spawning, though little information is available regarding specific mating systems of this species. Mating systems are likely similar to those of other members of the suborder Clupeoidei . Clupeoids generally disperse pelagic eggs, which are fertilized and then drift through the current or adhere to substrate.

Little information is available regarding the breeding of blackfin wolf-herrings. Like other members of the order Clupeiformes , blackfin wolf-herrings are believed to breed once annually, producing many offspring. Reports of spawning activity varies by location. Spawning generally occurs from April to June, but in some areas spawning occurs as late as October. In some cases around the Rameswaram Islands, spawning has been reported to begin in December.

• Key Reproductive Features
• seasonal breeding seasonal breeding
• fertilization fertilization
  • external external
• oviparous oviparous

As with all spawning fishes, blackfin wolf-herrings do not demonstrate investment in their offspring post-fertilization.

• Parental Investment
• no parental involvement

Lifespan/Longevity

Longevity of blackfin wolf-herrings is not well documented. Age of blackfin wolf-herrings can be estimated through a model of growth rate for this species, which uses measures of length (to the caudal fork) and of a portion of a bone called the otolith. Due to this technical procedure, relatively few individuals have been aged. Most members of this species aged using this method were 4 to 6 years of age, though some were as old as 13 years of age.

Behavior

Unlike most herring fishes, blackfin wolf-herrings are often found in small groups rather than large schools. However, schooling maybe more prevalent in this species during its larval stage to avoid predation.

• Key Behaviors
• natatorial natatorial
• diurnal diurnal
• motile motile
• social social

Home Range

Blackfin wolf-herring tend to stay close to shore or in brackish bays with a relatively small territory that they do not defend.

Communication and Perception

Fish of the suborder Clupeoidei , including blackfin wolf-herrings, have a phenomenal ability to hear due to two pairs of air bubbles inside their inner ears. Some members of this suborder can even detect ultrasonic frequencies. Pacific herrings ( Clupea pallasii ), for example, alter their feeding and schooling behaviors when sounds of toothed whales are imitated in a controlled environment. Some similar species of herring not only react to, but also produce high frequency sounds by releasing air bubbles. Because they feed primarily during the day, members of this genus g. Chirocentrus are also thought to utilize sight to hunt.

• Perception Channels
• visual visual
• tactile tactile
• acoustic acoustic
• vibrations vibrations
• chemical chemical

Food Habits

As a carnivorous fish, blackfin wolf-herrings prey mainly on other members of the order Clupeiformes , as well as members of the class Cephalopoda (octopus and squid). Sardines, however, are preferred prey of this species, particularly Sardinella albella and Sardinella gibbosa . Juveniles also display this carnivorous behavior, feeding on small shrimp, post-larvae, and early juvenile fish. The diet of blackfin wolf-herrings is seasonally consistent. As they feed primarily during the day, members of this genus g. Chirocentrus are thought to rely on sight to hunt.

• Primary Diet
• carnivore carnivore
  • piscivore piscivore

• Animal Foods
• fish
• mollusks
• aquatic crustaceans

Predation

Blackfin wolf-herrings lack many natural predators, and its mostly silver body acts as camouflage. Humans <<Homo sapiens>>) are the primary predator of this species, which are used for food and for bait.

• Anti-predator Adaptations
• cryptic cryptic

Ecosystem Roles

Blackfin wolf-herrings are common predators of sardines. They also act as host to marine leeches, Nerocila phaiopleura , which attach at the branchial/shoulder region of a host fish. Leeches do not cause harm to the fish while feeding. As the leech releases from its host, however, it leaves small skin lesions at its point of attachment. These lesions allow easy access for pathogenic microbes and infections like vibriosis. Vibriosis is an infection caused by a group of bacteria from the genus g. Vibrio .

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Blackfin wolf herrings are an important part of the fishing industry and make up a large percentage of catches along the Pacific coastlines. Fishery reports from Tanzania, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Maylasia, Singapore and the Philippines recorded catches of the genus Chirocentrus totaling 50,083 tons in 1983. As a gamefish, wolf-herrings are targeted by many fisheries in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean. They are typically caught using gillnets, seines, shawls and traps. Blackfin wolf-herrings are marketed fresh, frozen, or dried and salted. Blackfin wolf herrings are also used as bait for other trophy fish.

• Positive Impacts
• food food

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

Despite stories of fisherman being bitten by blackfin wolf-herrings, currently there are no known adverse effects of Chirocentrus dorab on humans. These accidental bites are believed to result from mishandling of captured fish.

• Negative Impacts
• injures humans
  • bites or stings

Conservation Status

Blackfin wolf-herrings are not currently listed at risk by the IUCN, CITES, or the US Federal List. Abundant fishing of this species is not currently know to drastically affect populations.

Additional Links

Encyclopedia of Life

Contributors

Michael Herring (author), Radford University, Karen Powers (editor), Radford University, Gail McCormick (editor), Animal Diversity Web Staff.

References

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