The Round Sardinella fish is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Sardinella.
In is known by some other names such as Spanish Sardine, Sardinella, Sardine, Round Sardines, Round Sardinelle, Bang, Black Sprat, Pilchard, Herring, Gilt Sardine, Fry-dry, False Sardine etc.
It is also called by many other different local names in many parts around the globe.
The Round Sardinella fish is found in both sides of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
It lives in tropical and subtropical waters of the western and eastern Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Mediterranean and sometimes in the Black Sea.
This fish generally prefer shallower waters around 24 °C, and can reach depths of 350 meters.
The Round Sardinella fish is a widely distributed species, common and abundant in it’s native area.
Currently the fish is listed as Least Concern, mainly due to it’s wide range and lack of evidence for significant population decline. However, read some more information about this fish species below.
Round Sardinella Fish Characteristics
The Round Sardinella fish have an elongate body, usually sbcylindrical, but sometimes a little compressed. Their belly is relatively rounded.
They have a large number of fine gill rakers, up to 160. They have 8 pelvic fin rays. In case of coloration, the flanks are silvery, they have frontopariental stripes on the top of their head, a faint golden midlateral line, and a distinctive black spot on the hid border of the gill cover.
The Round Sardinella fish is one of the largest Sardinella species, averaging between 23 and 28 cm. The maximum recorded body length is 30 cm. Maximum recorded live body weight of these fish is 229 grams. Photo and info from Wikipedia.
Diet
The Round Sardinella fish are mainly feed on phytoplankton and zooplankton such as copepods.
Breeding
The breeding pattern of the Round Sardinella fish is extremely complex. Perhaps they can breed at all times of the year, with distinct peak seasons.
There are 2 main spawning periods in some areas. The gonads start to develop in April and are fully mature one month later.
The juveniles tend to stay in nursery areas, but rejoin adult stocks in the colder offshore waters after maturing. They become mature within their 2 years of age.
Uses
The Round Sardinella fish is mainly used for food. But it it is also widely used as a bait fish.
Special Notes
The Round Sardinella fish is a small, pelagic fish species that prefers to inhabit warm waters.
It is commercially exploited in a large portion of it’s range in the eastern Atlantic, and a smaller portion of the western Atlantic.
The fish generally caught with beach seines and purse seines. Some fish are also occasionally taken with bottom trawls.
The species went through a large boom in catch population around 1990. But the numbers have been very stable through the last several years.
Average lifespan of this fish is around 7 years. However, review full breed profile of this fish in the table below.
| Name | Round Sardinella |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Clupeiformes |
| Family | Clupeidae |
| Genus | Sardinella |
| Species | S. aurita |
| Binomial Name | Sardinella aurita |
| Other Names | Also known as Spanish Sardine, Sardinella, Sardine, Round Sardines, Round Sardinelle, Bang, Black Sprat, Pilchard, Herring, Gilt Sardine, Fry-dry, False Sardine etc. |
| Breed Purpose | Mainly food, also bait |
| Weight | Can reach up to about 229 grams |
| Special Notes | Small, pelagic fish, prefers to inhabit warm waters, 7 years of average lifespan, used mainly for food, also used for bait |
| Breeding Method | Natural |
| Climate Tolerance | Native climates |
| Body Color | The flanks are silvery, they have frontopariental stripes on the top of their head, a faint golden midlateral line, and a distinctive black spot on the hid border of the gill cover |
| Rarity | Common |
| Availability | Worldwide |
