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Wolf Herrings


Wolf herrings are the members of the Chirocentridae family. They have elongate and compressed body, fang-like canine teeth and small scales. Their dorsal fin is shorter than anal fin and set well behind midpoint of body. Their back is blue or green, and their flanks silvery. They do not have scutes and lateral line on flanks.

Wolf herrings are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea and East Africa south to Durban, to western Pacific including Japan, the Philippines, and south to northern Australia. They are primarily coastal fishes and found usually in small schools. They are predator fishes, feeding mainly on other fishes.

There is only one genus and 2 species of Chirocentridae worldwide. Malaysia has both species.



Scientific Name: Chirocentrus nudus  Swainson, 1839
English Name: Whitefin Wolf Herring
French Name: Chirocentre sabre
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 西刀鱼 (Xi dāo)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Parang, Parang-parang, Cabuk, Parang Sudip
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาดาบลาวสั้น (Plā dāblāw s̄ận)
Main Identification Features: Mouth relatively, directed upward with large canine teeth in both jaws. Dorsal fin entirely white or colourless. Pectoral fins relatively long, about 13 to 18% standard length
Size: Maximum 100 cm standard length.
Habitat and Ecology: Pelagic, inshore fishes, occurring from the surface to a depth of about 150 m. Feeding occurs diurnally mainly on fishes, primarily clupeids and engraulids.