back of a partially buried ray. If a ray is stepped on it has the ability to thrust its tail upward and forward, impaling the victim with remarkable speed. Pain is immediate and intense, and may persist for several days. Immersion in hot water (about 50°C) for 30-90 minutes may dramatically relieve the pain as the venom is a protein which is heat labile. Medical assistance should always be obtained as the wound may be far more serious than it appears.
PLATE 6: HERRINGS AND RELATIVES
1 GIANT HERRING
Elops hawaiiensis Regan, 1909
Inhabits coastal waters and mangrove areas; distinguished by slender body and relatively large mouth; found throughout the region; Indo-C. Pacific; to 120 cm. (ELOPIDAE)
★
2 BONEFISH
Albula neoguinaica Valenciennes, 1847
Inhabits estuaries and mudflats; distinguished by protruding snout; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 110 cm. (ALBULIDAE)
★
3 MILKFISH
Chanos chanos (Forsskål, 1775)
Inhabits coastal waters near reefs; distinguished by small mouth and scissor-like tail; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 120 em, 10.6 kg. (CHANIDAE)
★
4 OXEYE HERRING
Megalops cyprinoides (Broussonet, 1782)
Inhabits coastal waters and mangrove areas; distinguished by large eye and mouth, and filament at end of dorsal fin; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 150 em, 2.3 kg. (ELOPIDAE)
★
5 WOLF HERRING
Chirocentrus dorab Forsskål, 1775 Inhabits coastal waters; distinguished by large fangs; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 140 cm. (CHIROCENTRIDAE)
★
6 SMOOTH-BELLY SARDINE
Amblygaster leiogaster (Valenciennes, 1847)
Inhabits coastal waters in large schools; similar to 8 below, but pelvic and anal fins farther apart; N.W. Australia and Indo-Malay Archipelago; Indo-W. Pacific; to 25 cm. (CLUPEIDAE)
★★
7 NORTHERN PILCHARD
Amblygaster sirm (Walbaum, 1792)
Inhabits coastal waters; distinguished by row of spots on side; N.W. Australia to Gulf of Carpentaria and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-W. Pacific; to 22 cm. (CLUPEIDAE)
★★
8 SLENDER SARDINE
Dussumieria elopsoides Bleeker, 1849
Inhabits coastal waters; similar to 6 above, but pelvic and anal fins closer together; N.W. Australia to Gulf of Carpentaria and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-W. Pacific; to 25 cm. (CLUPEIDAE)
★★
9 BLUESTRIPE HERRING
Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus (Rüppell, 1837)
Inhabits coastal waters; distinguished from all other plain coloured herrings on this page by a pair of fleshy outgrowths on margin of gill cover; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 16 cm. (CLUPEIDAE)
★★
10 KONINGSBERGER’S HERRING
Herklotsichthys koningsbergeri (Weber & de Beaufort, 1912)
Inhabits beaches and inlets; distinguished by double row of spots on side; found throughout the region; N.W. Australia to Gulf of Carpentaria and S. New Guinea; to 15 cm. (CLUPEIDAE)
★★
11 GIZZARD SHAD
Anodontostoma chacunda (Hamilton, 1822)
Inhabits coastal waters and mangrove areas; similar to 14 below, but lacks filament at rear of dorsal fin; found throughout the region; N.W. Australia to Gulf of Carpentaria and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-Australian Archipelago and N. Indian Ocean: to 20 cm. (CLUPEIDAE)
★★
12 BANDED ILISHA
Ilisha striatula Wongratana, 1983
Inhabits coastal waters; similar to 13 below, but has faint stripe along middle of side (not shown) and lacks dark spot behind gill cover; N.W. Australia and Indonesia; mainly N. Indian Ocean: to 22 cm. (PRISTIGASTERIDAE)
★★
13 DITCHELEE
Pellona ditchela Valenciennes, 1847
Inhabits coastal bays and estuaries; similar to 12 above, but lacks stripe on sides and has dark spot behind gill cover; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 18 cm. (PRISTIGASTERIDAE)
★★
14 HAIRBACK HERRING
Nematalosa come (Richardson, 1846)
Inhabits coastal bays and estuaries; similar to 11 above but has filament at end of dorsal fin; found throughout the region; mainly Indo-Australian Archipelago north to E. China Sea; to 23 cm. (CLUPEIDAE)
★★
15 SLENDER SPRAT
Spratelloides gracilis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)
Inhabits coastal waters; distinguished by slender shape and silvery stripe on sides; found throughout the region; Indo C. Pacific; to 11 cm. (CLUPEIDAE)
★★
16 BLUE SPRAT
Spratelloides robustus Ogilby, 1897
Inhabits coastal waters and estuaries; distinguished by bluish back and lack of silver stripe on sides; Australia only(W.A. and New. S.Wales); to 9 cm. (CLUPEIDAE)
★★
17 GOLDSTRIPE SARDINE
Sardinella gibbosa (Bleeker, 1849)
Inhabits coastal waters, distinguished by thin gold-coloured stripe on sides; N.W. Australia and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-W. Pacific; to 19 cm. (CLUPEIDAE)
★★★
18 BAREBACK ANCHOVY
Papuengraulis micropinna Munro, 1964
Inhabits
