Main Ref. | Whitehead, P.J.P., 1985 |
Appearance refers to | |
Bones in OsteoBase |
Specialized organs | no special organs |
Different appearance | males alike females |
Different colors | males alike females |
Remarks |
Striking features | none |
Body shape lateral | fusiform / normal |
Cross section | compressed |
Dorsal head profile | more or less straight |
Type of eyes | more or less normal |
Type of mouth/snout | more or less normal |
Position of mouth | superior |
Type of scales | cycloid scales |
Diagnosis |
Total number of scutes 31 to 34; lower gill rakers increasing with size of fish. Vertical striae on scales not meeting at center, only a few small perforations on hind part of scale. Closely resembles S. gibbosa which has fewer perforations on its scales. Of other sympatric Sardinella species, S. melanura has distinctive black caudal tips while S. albella has fewer scutes. |
Ease of Identification |
Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
Scales on lateral line | |
Pored lateral line scales | |
Scales in lateral series | |
Scale rows above lateral line | |
Scale rows below lateral line | |
Scales around caudal peduncle | |
Barbels | 0 |
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
Gill rakers | |
on lower limb | 38 - 77 |
on upper limb | |
total | |
Vertebrae | |
preanal | |
total |
Attributes | no striking attributes |
Fins number | 1 |
Finlets No. | Dorsal 0 - 0 |
Ventral 0 - 0 | |
Spines total | 0 - 0 |
Soft-rays total | 13 - 21 |
Adipose fin | absent |
Attributes | forked; more or less normal |
Fins number | 1 |
Spines total | 0 - 0 |
Soft-rays total | 12 - 23 |
Pectoral | Attributes more or less normal |
Spines 0 | |
Soft-rays | |
Pelvics | Attributes more or less normal |
Position abdominal behind origin of D1 | |
Spines | |
Soft-rays 7 |