Black Sea sprat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black Sea sprat |
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The Black Sea sprat, also known as the Pontic sprat, is a small fish. Its scientific name is Clupeonella cultriventris. This fish is part of the herring family, called Clupeidae. You can find it in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It also lives in rivers that flow into these seas. Some of these rivers include the Danube, Dnister, Dnipro (in Ukraine), Southern Bug, Don, and Kuban.
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About the Black Sea Sprat
What Does It Look Like?
The Black Sea sprat has white-grey flesh. Its scales are a shiny silver-grey color. It is a small fish. A typical sprat is about 10 centimeters (4 inches) long. The biggest ones can grow up to 15 centimeters (6 inches).
Where Does It Live?
This fish is very common in the Sea of Azov. It is an important part of the ocean's food web. Many other fish eat the sprat. For example, the pikeperch often hunts and eats sprats.
Life and Spawning
The Black Sea sprat can live for up to 5 years. They lay their eggs, a process called spawning, mostly in April. During this time, they gather in huge groups called shoals. These shoals can fill the shallow areas near the coast. They move quickly from the shore back into deeper water. They usually stay at depths of 6 to 30 meters (20 to 100 feet).
Sprat as Food
People often catch and eat the Black Sea sprat. It is a good source of food. About 12% of its body weight is fat. This makes it a tasty and nutritious fish.
Related Fish
There is another fish called the Caspian tyulka. Its scientific name is Clupeonella caspia. For a long time, people thought it was a type of Black Sea sprat. They called it C. cultriventris caspia. Sometimes, both were grouped together as the "Black and Caspian Sea sprat." Now, they are usually seen as separate but related species.
See also
- List of fish in Ukraine
Images for kids
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A Black Sea sprat specimen.
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