NESA Species Hunt 2014



Yes I agree. The main differences between smoothound and tope are that smoothounds have a larger second dorsel fin and tope have sharper teeth. As you said yours had sharp teeth, so it has to be a tope. Well done Andy that's the first tope ever entered in the species hunt. I will update the table tomorrow.

smoothoundvstope_zpsea6c3072.jpg





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Yes I agree. The main differences between smoothound and tope are that smoothounds have a larger second dorsel fin and tope have sharper teeth. As you said yours had sharp teeth, so it has to be a tope. Well done Andy that's the first tope ever entered in the species hunt. I will update the table tomorrow.

smoothoundvstope_zpsea6c3072.jpg





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Cheers mike, it was definitely like the one on the right!
 
Seems like the links you've got suggest they're seperate. Either way

Yes they are separate species. They are both part of the herring family (Clupeidae) as are shads. The main differences between the two are....
1. size (sprats only grow to 16cm but herring can grow to over 30cm)
2. the position of the pelvic fin (in line with the dorsal on a sprat, further back on a herring)
3. The belly scales (pointed keel scales on a sprat feel prickly if you run your finger along them).

It's your fish Liam so it's your call. Let me know what you want me to put it down as.

The Herring



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