Pelagic . Forms schools in coastal waters. Dominant species in beach seine hauls. Used as tuna bait . First reported case of clupeoid poisoning was in 1978 in the Hawaiian Is., probably caused by a planktonic dinoflagellate . Migratory behaviour is undetermined .
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 21; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 23. Body slender; total scutes 28 to 30; lower gill rakers strongly increasing with size of fish, about 45 at 5 or 6 cm standard length, 50 to 80 (maximum) at 6 to 10 cm. Vertical striae on scales not meeting at center, no perforations on hind part of scale. No dark spot at dorsal fin origin, no dark tips to caudal fin. Can be separated from other species by a combination of above characters.: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
Behavioural data for Marquesan sardinella is currently being reviewed.
Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 0 - 50 m . Tropical; 24°N - 19°S, 164°W - 141°W endemic to the Marquesas Islands.
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 2 records indexed .
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