Home · Dussumieriidae · Sardine
Sardine (Etrumeus micropus) — Dussumieriidae

Sardine

Etrumeus micropus
LC · Least Concern

The Sardine (Etrumeus micropus) is a saltwater fish of the family Dussumieriidae that grows up to 28 cm.

Length
28.3 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Northwest Pacific; coastal waters.
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Sardine?

Description

The round herring is a herring-like fish (Dussumieriidae) from the northwestern Pacific. The species has a slender, almost round-sectioned, silvery body, unlike the laterally compressed true herrings. It forms large schools in coastal waters. With its fine gill rakers it filters small zooplankton from the water. It is an important prey and food fish. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Sardine?

The Sardine has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Almost round body in cross-section; schooling, filter-feeding prey and food fish.

Where does the Sardine live?

The Sardine lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water. Northwest Pacific; coastal waters.

How big does the Sardine get?

The Sardine grows to a maximum of about 28 cm.

Is the Sardine dangerous to humans?

No, the Sardine is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Sardine edible?

Yes, the Sardine is commonly eaten.

More photos

Sardine (Etrumeus micropus) — Dussumieriidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) sharkdevotee, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Sardine (Etrumeus micropus) — Dussumieriidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) yoshinobu203, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Sardine (Etrumeus micropus) — Dussumieriidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — David Starr Jordan / Barton Warren Evermann (Public domain)
Sardine (Etrumeus micropus) — Dussumieriidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) akira_jp, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

Want the complete picture on the Sardine?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Sardine is one of 12,519 species in the app.

All data

Identification

English name
Sardine verified
Scientific name
Etrumeus micropus
Family
Dussumieriidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
28.3 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey
Pattern
Plain
Tail shape
Forked
Mouth position
Terminal
Lips
Thin
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Natural range
Northwest Pacific; coastal waters.
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small zooplankton (filtered) sourced
Social behaviour
Large groups
Territorial
No
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.
Special features
Almost round body in cross-section; schooling, filter-feeding prey and food fish. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Angling with lures or (dead/live) baitfish by trolling, casting or drift fishing in open water.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Etrumeus

More from the family Dussumieriidae

Want the complete picture on the Sardine?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Sardine is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Is this the Sardine?