Konosirus punctatus


Konosirus punctatus is a species of fish in the family Clupeidae, the herrings and sardines. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Konosirus. Its common names include dotted gizzard shad, konoshiro gizzard shad, and spotted sardine. It is native to the northwestern Pacific Ocean, where it occurs along the Asian coastline.
This fish is usually up to 25 centimeters long, with the maximum recorded length 32 centimeters. It has a somewhat compressed body and a slightly projecting snout. There is a dark spot behind the gills, with several lines of dark dots next to it.
This species occurs in the ocean, and it can be found near land in bays. It enters shallow brackish waters to spawn.
This is a food fish of some commercial importance, particularly in Asia.

As Food

Known as "Jeon-eo", 전어, in Korea, these fish are a seasonal specialty and consumed in a wide variety of ways including raw, grilled, dried, etc. There are several "Jeon-eo" regional festivals in fall which attract large crowds. It is known as "Konoshiro" in Japan. Konosirus punctatus is also an important fish consumed in China, Japan, India and Polynesia.