Black Sea sprat belongs to Herrings, shads, and sardines family.

Max. size: 14.5 cm. Max.age: 5 years. Enviroment: pelagic; freshwater; brackish; marine. Depth range 10 m. Climate: temperate. Minimum population doubling time is 1.4 - 4.4 years. Distribution: Eurasia - Black Sea (northwestern parts), Sea of Azov and Caspian Sea, also most of the affluent rivers of the area, reaching as far as 60 km inland. Also, Lake Palaeostomi (Bulgaria) and in Bay of Feodosiya (Romania), also Lake Apolyont (Turkey). Forms schools. Migratory between winter or autumn feeding and summer spawning grounds. Feeds on zooplankton. Breeds in early summer in the Sea of Azov with a peak in May, and from about May in the lower reaches of rivers (e.g. Dneiper and Dneister). Utilized fresh. Eaten broiled, fried, baked, dried, or cured.