Fin's Fish Guide
The Round sardinella (Sardinella aurita) is a brackish-water fish of the family Clupeidae that grows up to 41 cm.
Atlantic Ocean from Gibraltar to South Africa, West African upwelling zones, Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea; western Atlantic from Cape Cod to Argentina.
Description
The round sardinella is a slender, silvery clupeid reaching about 41 cm. A faint golden line runs along the flank and a small black spot sits at the edge of the gill cover. It has a single spineless dorsal fin and a deeply forked tail. The species lives pelagically in coastal waters of the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, forming large schools that rise to the surface at night and disperse. Its food consists mainly of zooplankton such as copepods and mysid larvae. Strongly migratory, the round sardinella is an important commercial fish across its warm-water range.
Frequently asked questions
How do you recognise the Round sardinella?
The Round sardinella has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Slender herring-like fish with a golden midline and a black blotch at the edge of the operculum.
Where does the Round sardinella live?
The Round sardinella lives in brackish water and is mostly found around open water. Atlantic Ocean from Gibraltar to South Africa, West African upwelling zones, Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea; western Atlantic from Cape Cod to Argentina.
How big does the Round sardinella get?
The Round sardinella grows to a maximum of about 41 cm. On average the species is around 25 cm.
Is the Round sardinella dangerous to humans?
No, the Round sardinella is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.
Is the Round sardinella edible?
Yes, the Round sardinella is commonly eaten.
More photos
Easily confused with
These species look like the Round sardinella and live in the same waters.
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All data
Identification
Appearance
Habitat & distribution
Behaviour & biology
For anglers
Safety
Status & sources
Same genus Sardinella
More from the family Clupeidae
Want the complete picture on the Round sardinella?
Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Round sardinella is one of 12,519 species in the app.