Sardinella is a genus of fish in the family Dorosomatidae found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. They are abundant in warmer waters of the tropical and subtropical oceans. Adults are generally coastal, schooling, marine fish but juveniles are often found in lagoons and estuaries. These species are distinguished by their ranges and by specific body features, but they are often confused with one another. Fish of the genus have seven to 14 striped markings along the scales of the top of the head. The paddle-shaped supramaxilla bones are characteristic; they separate Sardinella from other genera and their shapes help distinguish species. They have paired predorsal scales and enlarged fin rays.
Species
There are currently 27 recognized species in this genus:
- Sardinella albella <small>(Valenciennes, 1847)</small> (White sardinella)
- Sardinella alcyone <small>Hata & Motomura, 2019</small> (Blueback sardinella)
- Sardinella atricauda <small>(Günther, 1868)</small> (Bleeker's blacktip sardinella)
- Sardinella aurita <small>Valenciennes, 1847</small> (Round sardinella)
- Sardinella brachysoma <small>Bleeker, 1852</small> (Deep-body sardinella)
- Sardinella brasiliensis <small>(Steindachner, 1879)</small> (Brazilian sardinella)
- Sardinella dayi <small>Regan, 1917</small> (Day's sardinella)
- Sardinella electra <small>Hata & Motomura, 2019</small> (Island Sardinella)
- Sardinella fijiense <small>(Fowler & B. A. Bean, 1923)</small> (Fiji sardinella)
- Sardinella fimbriata <small>(Valenciennes, 1847)</small> (Fringe-scale sardinella)
- Sardinella gibbosa <small>(Bleeker, 1849)</small> (Gold-stripe sardinella)
- Sardinella goni <small>Stern, Rinkevich & Goren, 2016</small> (Gon's sardinella)
- Sardinella hualiensis <small>(K. Y. Chu & C. F. Tsai, 1958)</small> (Taiwan sardinella)
- Sardinella jussieu <small>(Lacépède, 1803)</small> (Mauritian sardinella)
- Sardinella lemuru <small>Bleeker, 1853</small> (Bali sardinella)
- Sardinella longiceps <small>Valenciennes, 1847</small> (Indian sardinella)
- Sardinella maderensis <small>(R. T. Lowe, 1838)</small> (Madeiran sardinella)
- Sardinella marquesensis <small>Berry & Whitehead, 1968</small> (Marquesan sardinella)
- Sardinella melanura <small>(G. Cuvier, 1829)</small> (Black-tip sardinella)
- Sardinella neglecta <small>Wongratana, 1983</small> (East African sardinella)
- Sardinella pacifica <small>Hata & Motomura, 2019</small>
- Sardinella richardsoni <small>Wongratana, 1983</small> (Richardson's sardinella)
- Sardinella rouxi <small>(Poll, 1953)</small> (Yellow-tail sardinella)
- Sardinella sindensis <small>(F. Day, 1878)</small> (Sind sardinella)
- Sardinella tawilis <small>(Herre, 1927)</small> (Fresh-water sardinella)
- Sardinella ventura <small>Hata & Motomura, 2021</small> (Fortune sardinella)
- Sardinella zunasi <small>(Bleeker, 1854)</small> (Japanese sardinella)
References