European pilchard
📖 Overview
A coastal, pelagic species . Form schools, usually at depths of 25 to 55 or even 100 m by day, rising to 10 to 35 m at night. Feed mainly on planktonic crustaceans, also on larger organisms. Spawn in batches , in the open sea or near the coast, producing 50,000-60,000 eggs with a mean diameter of 1.5 mm . Marketed fresh, frozen or canned. Also utilized dried or salted and smoked; can be pan-fried, broiled and microwaved .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 21; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 23. Body sub-cylindrical, belly rather rounded (but more compressed in juveniles). Hind margin of gill opening smoothly rounded (without fleshy outgrowths) ; 3 to 5 distinct body striae radiating downward on lower part of operculum; lower gill rakers not becoming shorter at angle of first gill arch, the upper series not overlapping the lower. Last 2 anal fin rays enlarged.: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
European Sardines are highly gregarious, forming dense schools of millions of individuals for predator protection. They undertake daily vertical migrations, rising to surface waters at night to feed on plankton and descending to deeper, cooler water during daylight. Spawning migrations can cover hundreds of kilometres.
🦐 Diet
Sardines are filter feeders that consume phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish larvae, and small crustaceans by swimming with their mouths open and filtering particles through their gill rakers.
🥚 Reproduction
Breeds at 20 to 25 m, near the shore or as much as 100 km out to sea.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous ; depth range 10 - 100 m , usually 25 - 100 m . Subtropical; 68°N - 14°N, 32°W - 43°E Northeast Atlantic: Iceland (rare) and North Sea, southward to Bay de Gorée, Senegal.
🌿 Ecology
planktonic crustaceans, also on larger organisms
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"European pilchard is prized for its firm, flavourful flesh and outstanding eating quality."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 208 kcal |
| Protein | 19.8 g |
| Total Fat | 11.5 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 1,070 mg |
| EPA | 473 mg |
| DHA | 509 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | European Sardine · European pilchard · European pilchard (=sardine) · European pilchard, Pilchard · Fair Maid · Pilchard · Sardine · Soused Pilchards · true sardine |
| 🌍BEL | Сардзіны |
| 🌍BRE | sardinenn |
| 🌍BUL | Средиземноморска сардина |
| 🏳️Catalan | sardina |
| 🌍CES | sardinka obecná |
| 🌍CYM | Penwaig Mair · pennog mair |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Europæisk sardin · Sardin |
| 🇩🇪German | Europäische Sardine · Pilchard · Sardine |
| 🌍ELL | Σαρδέλα |
| 🌍EUS | sardina |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | Sardiini |
| 🇫🇷French | Sardine D'Europe · Sardine commune · Sardine d’Europe · sardine |
| 🌍GLE | An pilséar · An sairdín |
| 🌍GLG | sardiña |
| 🇭🇷Croatian | Sardela |
| 🇭🇺Hungarian | Szardínia |
| 🌍ISL | Sardinur · Sardína |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Saraca · Sarda 'mperiali · Sardina |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | ニシイワシ · ヨーロッパマイワシ |
| 🌍MKD | сардина |
| 🌍MLT | Nemusa (juvenile) · Saraga · Sarda · Sardina (adult) · Sardina kahla · Srajdna (juvenile) |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Europese sardine · Pelser · Sardien · Sardientje |
| 🌍NNO | sardin |
| 🌍NOB | sardin |
| 🇳🇴Norwegian | Sardin |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Sardynka europejska · sardynka |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Petinga · Sardinha · Sardinopa-chilena · sardina · sardinopa |
| 🌍RON | Sardea · Sardina |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Европейская сардина · Сардина европейская |
| 🌍SLV | Sardela |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Majuga · Parrocha · Sardina · Sardina Europea · Xouba |
| 🌍SQI | Sardelë · bokfa · sardelja |
| 🌍SRP | Sardela · Srdela · Srdjela |
| 🇸🇪Swedish | Sardin · sardiner |
| 🌍THA | ปลาซาร์ดีน |
| 🌍TUR | Sardalya |
| 🌍UKR | Сардина європейська |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alosa pilchardus | Walbaum | 1792 | Synonym |
| Alosa sardina | Risso | 1827 | Synonym |
| Arengus minor | Cornide | 1788 | Synonym |
| Clupanodon sardina | Risso | 1827 | Synonym |
| Clupea harengus pilchardus | Walbaum | 1792 | Synonym |
| Clupea laticosta | Lowe | 1843 | Synonym |
| Clupea pilchardus | Walbaum | 1792 | Synonym |
| Clupea pilchardus sardinia | - | - | Synonym |
| Clupea sardina | Cuvier | 1829 | Synonym |
| Clupea sardinia | Lowe | 1837 | Synonym |
| Sardina dobrogica | Antipa | 1904 | Synonym |
| Sardina pilchardus sardina | Risso | 1827 | Synonym |
| Sardinus pilchardus | Walbaum | 1792 | Synonym |
📖 Related Articles
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 65 records indexed .
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