Sardinella is a
genus of
fish in the
familyDorosomatidae found in the
Atlantic,
Indian and
Pacific Ocean. 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.[2] 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.[3]
Species
There are currently 24 recognized species in this genus:
^Stern, N., Rinkevich, B. & Goren, M. (2016): Integrative approach revises the frequently misidentified species of Sardinella (Clupeidae) of the Indo-West Pacific Ocean. Journal of Fish Biology, 89 (5): 2282–2305.