| Family: |
Dorosomatidae (Gizzard shads and sardinellas) |
| Max. size: |
27 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
pelagic-neritic; brackish; marine; depth range 5 - 60 m, oceanodromous |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, West Indies southward to Brazil and northern Uruguay (identifications are not always reliable). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-21; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 12-23. Diagnostic features as for Sardinella aurita from which it differs in having the anterior gill rakers on the lower limbs of the second and third gill arches distinctly curled downward (more or less flat in S. aurita) (Ref. 188). The pelvic fin ray count of i 8 distinguishes S. brasiliensis from all other species of Sardinella, also Harengula and Opisthonema (Ref. 188). Similar to S. aurita (Ref. 26938). Bluish black above. Peritoneum black (Ref. 37032). Separation of Sardinella brasiliensis (synonym of Sardinella janeiro) from Sardinella aurita on the basis of gill raker shape and a higher gill raker count is tentative. |
| Biology: |
Found in coastal waters, often forming compact schools. Maximum depth range based on spawners in Brazil (Ref. 114041). Probably similar to S. aurita, but if they are indeed distinct, then this species may account for the double spawning peaks of S. aurita. Constitutes a large fishery in Venezuela, but statistical reports are not separated from S. aurita. Marketed fresh and canned (Ref. 5217). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 12 July 2017 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
| Country info: |
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