Fishby LogoFishby

Dorab Wolf-Herring

Vorsichtig behandeln

Chirocentrus dorab

Auch bekannt als: Dorab, Wolf Herring, Dorab Wolf-Herring, Silver Barfish, Milkfish (misnomer in some regions)

Haben Sie ein Foto? Bestimmen Sie Fische sofort mit der Fishby-App.

App öffnen

Beschreibung

Chirocentrus dorab, commonly known as the Dorab Wolf-Herring, is a predatory marine fish characterized by its elongated, compressed body and formidable dentition. It is a fast-swimming pelagic species, often found in coastal waters, estuaries, and sometimes venturing into freshwater. Its silvery appearance and sharp, canine-like teeth make it a distinctive and efficient hunter in its ecosystem.

Körperliche Merkmale

Körperform
elongated
Färbung
Dorsal surface is typically dark blue to greenish-blue, fading to bright silvery on the flanks and belly. Fins are generally translucent or dusky.
Schuppentyp
cycloid
Maulstellung
terminal
Besondere Merkmale
Extremely elongated and compressed body, giving it a ribbon-like appearance., Large, prominent, canine-like teeth in both jaws, visible even when the mouth is closed., Small, cycloid scales that are easily shed., A single, short dorsal fin positioned far back on the body., Deeply forked caudal fin., Pectoral fins are low-set and relatively small.
Rückenflosse
Single, short dorsal fin with 4-6 spines and 29-36 soft rays, positioned posterior to the anal fin origin.
Schwanzflosse
Deeply forked caudal fin, with two lobes of roughly equal size.
Brustflosse
Small, low-set pectoral fins with 13-15 rays.
Auffällige Flossen
Pelvic fins are very small, abdominal, and located far back on the body, almost directly below the dorsal fin. Anal fin is long, originating anterior to the dorsal fin, with 3-4 spines and 30-36 soft rays.

Bestimmungstipps

Body Shape

Look for the very elongated, laterally compressed, and ribbon-like body. This is a primary distinguishing feature.

Dentition

Observe the prominent, sharp, canine-like teeth in both jaws. These are often visible even when the mouth is closed and are crucial for identification.

Fin Placement

Note the single, short dorsal fin positioned far back on the body, almost opposite the anal fin. The pelvic fins are also very small and set far back.

Coloration

The characteristic dark blue/greenish-blue dorsal surface transitioning to bright silvery flanks and belly is consistent.

Size

Adults can reach up to 1 meter (3.3 feet) in length, with a common length around 60 cm (2 feet). Its large size for a 'herring-like' fish is notable.

Lebensraum

Wassertyp
saltwater
Tiefe
Typically found in shallow coastal waters, from the surface down to about 150 meters (490 feet).
Umgebung
Pelagic-neritic, inhabiting coastal waters, estuaries, and occasionally entering freshwater. Prefers clear to turbid waters over sandy or muddy bottoms, often near reefs or rocky outcrops where prey congregates.
Geografische Verbreitung
Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea and East Africa eastward to the Philippines, and northward to southern Japan, southward to northern Australia. Also found in the Persian Gulf.

Aquarieninformationen

  • Pflegeaufwand: expert
  • Temperament: aggressive
  • Ernährung: carnivore
  • Mindestbeckengröße: Not suitable for typical home aquariums due to size, predatory nature, and swimming requirements. Requires public aquarium-scale exhibits (thousands of gallons).
  • Temperatur: 24-28°C (75-82°F)
  • pH-Wert: 8.1-8.4
  • Härte: 1.020-1.025 SG
  • Verträglichkeit: Only compatible with very large, robust, and fast-swimming predatory fish of similar size in extremely large, specialized exhibits. Not suitable for community tanks.
  • Besondere Anforderungen: Requires immense swimming space, high-quality filtration for heavy bioload, live or fresh whole fish diet, and careful handling due to sharp teeth. Prone to stress in confined spaces.

Informationen zum Wildbestand

  • Erhaltungszustand: least concern
  • Saisonalität: Present year-round in its range, but local abundance can vary with seasonal prey availability and spawning aggregations.
  • Marktpreis: Variable, generally moderate to high depending on region and market demand.
  • Kommerzielle Bedeutung: medium
  • Geschmack: Mild, slightly oily, with a distinct fish flavor.
  • Textur: Flaky, somewhat soft, but can be bony.
  • Zubereitungsarten: Frying, Grilling, Steaming, Curries, Smoking
  • Nährwert: Good source of protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, and various vitamins and minerals.

Wichtige Fakten

Ancient Lineageevolution

The family Chirocentridae, to which the Dorab Wolf-Herring belongs, is considered an ancient lineage within the order Clupeiformes, representing a distinct evolutionary path from true herrings.

Voracious Predatorbehavior

Despite its 'herring' moniker, the Dorab Wolf-Herring is a highly active and voracious predator, feeding primarily on smaller schooling fish like sardines, anchovies, and even small crustaceans and squid.

Leaping Hunterbehavior

They are known for their spectacular leaps out of the water, especially when pursuing prey or attempting to escape predators, making them a thrilling sight for anglers.

Fast Swimmerbehavior

Their streamlined, elongated body and deeply forked tail are adaptations for high-speed pursuit, allowing them to be incredibly efficient hunters in open water.

Commercial Fishery Targetinteresting

Dorab Wolf-Herring is an important food fish in many parts of its range, caught using various methods including gillnets, purse seines, and hook-and-line. Its flesh is appreciated despite its bony nature.

Sicherheitsinformationen

Vorsichtig behandeln
  • Sicherheitsstufe: caution
  • Giftig: Nein
  • Essbarkeit: edible
  • Hinweise zum Umgang: Exercise extreme caution when handling due to its very sharp, canine-like teeth. These teeth can inflict deep and painful lacerations. Use thick gloves and appropriate tools (e.g., fish grippers, long-nosed pliers for hook removal) to avoid injury. It is a powerful fish and can thrash violently when caught.

Ähnliche Arten

Whitefin Wolf-Herring

Chirocentrus nudus

C. nudus typically has a more silvery body without the distinct bluish-green dorsal hue of C. dorab. The most reliable distinction is the number of fin rays: C. nudus has fewer dorsal (16-19) and anal (32-36) soft rays compared to C. dorab (dorsal 29-36, anal 30-36). C. nudus also lacks the small black spot at the base of the pectoral fin often present in C. dorab.

Sardines/Herrings (Clupeidae family)

Various species

While sometimes colloquially referred to as 'herring', Dorab Wolf-Herring is not a true herring (family Clupeidae). True herrings are generally smaller, lack the prominent canine teeth, and have a more fusiform (spindle-shaped) body. Their scales are also typically larger and more firmly attached.

Barracudas (Sphyraenidae family)

Various species

Barracudas also have elongated bodies and sharp teeth, but their body shape is more cylindrical, and their dorsal fins are distinctly separated (two dorsal fins). Their coloration is also often more patterned with bars or stripes, unlike the uniform silvery flanks of the Wolf-Herring.

Wissenschaftliche Klassifikation

Reich
Animalia
Stamm
Chordata
Klasse
Actinopterygii
Ordnung
Clupeiformes
Familie
Chirocentridae
Gattung
Chirocentrus
Art
Chirocentrus dorab

Dorab Wolf-Herring entdecken

Fische überall bestimmen

Kostenlos für iOS, Android und Web. Fotobestimmung, vollständige Artendetails und mehr.

In der App öffnen