Description:

Dorsal spines: 0; Dorsal rays: 17-21; Anal spines: 0; Anal rays: 15-23.

Body slender, large eyes. Transversely elongate wing-like scales underneath the normal paired pre-dorsal scales.
 
Colour. Flank silvery with an electric blue line preceded by two orange spots, one above the other just behind the gill cover.

Maturity: Lm 10.1 cm  FL (Seychelles). Max Length: 15.6 cm TL. Commonly to 10cm SL.

Coastal shallow water and seagrass habitats (depth 1-13m). Forms schools near mangroves, shallow coastal bays and lagoons during the day in a few metres of clear water. 
At night time moves into deeper water to feed on zooplankton, chaetognaths, polychaete worms, shrimps and small fish. Oviparous. Reaches maturity at 5 months, spawns 
continuously, and has a maximum longevity of one year.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the net fishery, it is a periodically abundant component of the catch.

Bray, D.J.  Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2056 (18/06/19).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.de/summary/1494 (18/06/19).
Moussac de, G. & Poupon, J.C. (1986). Croissance et ovogénèsis d'Herklotsichthys punctatus (Pisces, Clupeidae) Ruppel, 1837 aux Seychelles. Cybium 10(1):31-45.
Santos, M. et al. (2017). Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus. The IUCN Red List 2017: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T57506640A58341331.en. (18/06/19).
Whitehead, P.J.P. (1985).  FAO Species Catalogue. Vol.7. Clupeoid fishes of the world (Suborder Clupeoidei). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the herrings, sardines,
pilchards, sprats, shads, anchovies and wolf-herrings.Part 1. Chirocentridae, Clupeidae and Pristigasteridae. FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS 
Rome, 1985. ISBN 92-5-102340-9

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus, Bluestripe herring. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/herklotsichthys-quadrimaculatus-ruppell-1837/ (edited 01/07/22).