Indian oil sardine
📖 Overview
Coastal pelagic . Forms schools in coastal waters and strongly migratory. Feeds mainly on phytoplankton (especially diatoms) and small crustaceans . Breeds once a year off western coasts of India when temperatures and salinity are low during the southwest monsoon months. Spawning peaks in August-September. Occurs at temperatures of 22.0-28.0 °C . Marketed fresh, dried and dried-salted. Also sold smoked and canned . Also made into fish meal and fish balls.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 21; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 23; Vertebrae: 45 - 49. Body sub-cylindrical; a faint golden spot behind gill opening, followed by a faint golden mid-lateral line; a distinct black spot at hind border of gill cover (absence of pigment). Distinguished from all clupeids in the northern Indian Ocean by its pelvic fin ray count of i 8; from S. neglecta and S. lemuru by its longer head and more lower gill rakers. No prominent keel. See also Refs. 3683, 818 and 393 .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Indian oil sardine is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Indian oil sardine is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Spawning usually takes place at night .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous ; depth range 20 - 200 m . Tropical; 31°N - 2°S, 32°E - 95°E East Africa, Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf and Socotra (Yemen) and Somalia, east to southeastern India, to the Andaman Islands.
🌿 Ecology
phytoplankton (especially diatoms) and small crustaceans (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Indian Oil-sardine · Indian Oil-sardinella · Indian Sardinella · Indian oil sardine · Malabar Sardine · Oil Sardine · Sardine |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | سردين الزيت الهندي |
| 🌍CES | sardinka velkohlavá |
| 🇫🇷French | Sardinelle Indienne |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Большеголовая сардинелла |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Sardinela Aceitera · Sardinela de la India |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alausa scombrina | Valenciennes | 1847 | Synonym |
| Clupea longiceps | Valenciennes | 1847 | Synonym |
| Sardinella neohowii | Valenciennes | 1847 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 6 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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