Round sardinella
📖 Overview
A coastal, pelagic, species preferring clear saline waters, usually with maximum temperatures below 24°C . Found inshore and near surface to edge of shelf and down to 350m, or perhaps even deeper; schooling and strongly migratory, often rising to surface at night and dispersing . It is a cold water species, temperatures between 18-25°C, approaching the coast and shoaling near the surface in the period of upwelling, but retreating below the thermocline in the hot season, down to depths of 200 to 300m . It feeds mainly on zooplankton, especially copepods and larvae of mysids, but also some phytoplankton, especially by juveniles . It breeds perhaps at all times of the year, but with distinct peaks; the breeding pattern is extremely complex, with two principal spawning periods in some areas . There is no spawning in Black Sea . The juveniles tend to stay in nursery areas, but on maturity rejoin adult stocks in the colder offshore waters . Trematode found in intestinal tract .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17 - 20; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 16 - 18; Vertebrae: 47 - 49. Diagnosis: Body elongate, usually subcylindrical, but sometimes a little compressed; belly rather rounded, but with a distinct keel of scutes; lower gillrakers fine and numerous, more than 80; anterior gillrakers on lower limbs of second and third gill arches lying more or less flat . Flanks silvery, with a faint golden midlateral line, preceded by a faint golden spot behind gill opening; a distinct black spot at hind border of gill cover . The pelvic finray count of 1 unbranched and 8 branched rays distinguishes Sardinella aurita from all other species of Sardinella, also Harengula, Opisthonema, Herklotsichthys and Amblygaster, that occur with it . It resembles Clupea, but has two fleshy outgrowths along outer margin of gill opening and numerous fine fronto-parietal striae on top of head . : elongated; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Round sardinella is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Round sardinella is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
The breeding pattern is extremely complex, with two principal spawning periods in some areas (linked with upwelling regimes off west Africa).
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous ; depth range 0 - 350 m . Subtropical; 18°C - 25°C ; 47°N - 40°S, 98°W - 43°E West African coast (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
zooplankton, especially copepods and larvae of mysids, but also some phytoplankton, especially by ju
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alosa senegalensis | Bennett | 1831 | Heterotypic |
| Clupanodon pseudohispanica | Poey | 1860 | Synonym |
| Clupea allecia | Rafinesque | 1810 | Heterotypic |
| Clupea aurita | Valenciennes | 1847 | Synonym |
| Clupea aurovittata | Swainson | 1838 | Synonym |
| Clupea caeruleovittata | Richardson | 1846 | Synonym |
| Clupea venulosa | Steinitz | 1927 | Synonym |
| Meletta mediterranea | Valenciennes | 1847 | Synonym |
| Sardinella anchovia | Valenciennes | 1847 | Synonym |
| Sardinella aurita mediterranea | Valenciennes | 1847 | Synonym |
| Sardinella aurita terrasae | Lozano-Rey | 1950 | Synonym |
| Sardinella euxina | Antipa | 1906 | Synonym |
| Sardinella pinnula | Bean | 1912 | Synonym |
| Sardinia pseudohispanica | Poey | 1860 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 763 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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