Spratelloides

Hidaka, Kouichi, Yamamuro, Taihei & Yoshino, Tetsuo, 2015, Spratelloides atrofasciatus Schultz, 1943, a valid species of round herring (Clupeiformes: Clupeidae), Zootaxa 4028 (4), pp. 527-538 : 536

Key to the species of Spratelloides

1 a A brown mid-lateral band (silver when fresh); second supramaxilla asymmetrical; vertical striae on scales not meeting at center.................................................................................................. 2

1 b No mid-lateral band, but whole lower flank silver; second supramaxilla symmetrical; vertical striae on scales meeting at center................................................................................................... 4

2 a Mid-lateral band fading anteriorly at about tips of pectoral fins, lower gill rakers 28–32........................ S. lewisi

2 b Mid-lateral band not fading anteriorly..................................................................... 3

3 a Anal fin rays 12–15, pectoral fin rays 12–14, vertebrae 47–50, lower gill rakers 30–39, head length 20.8–26.9 % SL, upper jaw length 7.7–10.5 %, snout length ( 6.6 –9.0 %) longer than eye diameter ( 4.4 –8.0%); lateral band ( 3.8–7.5 %) narrower than eye diameter, no melanophores on inner side of operculum................................................. S. gracilis

3 b Anal fin rays 10–13, pectoral fin rays 10–13, vertebrae 43–47, lower gill rakers 20–24, head length 19.3–24.1 % SL, upper jaw length 7.0– 9.3 %, snout length ( 5.9–7.4 %) equal or shorter than eye diameter ( 5.4–7.5 %), lateral band ( 5.7–7.9 %) wider than eye diameter, melanophores on inner side of operculum (visible in preserved specimens)................. S. atrofasciatus

4 a Predorsal scales 8–13, scales in lateral series 35–41, posterior margin of scales not toothed................. S. delicatulus

4 b Predorsal scales 13–16, scales in lateral series 42–46, posterior margin of scales toothed..................... S. robustus