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Sardinops sagax (Jenyns, 1842)
Pacific Sardine
Family: Clupeidae
Introduction to the Fish

Photograph

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Map

Source: Distribution of Sardinops sagax as compiled by Aquamaps

Species Information

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 21; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 23; Vertebrae: 48 - 54. Body cylindrical and elongate; ventral part of operculum with clear cut bony striae radiating downwards; belly rounded with ventral scutes; back blue green; flanks white, with 1 to 3 series of dark spots along the middle (Ref. 55763). The radiating bony striae on the operculum distinguish this species from all other clupeids in the area. The radiating bony striae on the operculum distinguish this fish from all other clupeids in the area. In New Zealand the species appears to grow larger (21.3 cm standard length; cf. 19.7 cm), has slightly larger eggs and a higher mean number of vertebrae (50.52; cf. 49 to 50.08 in various samples) (Ref. 859).

Source: FishBase. Whitehead, P.J.P. 1985 . (Ref. 188)

Biology

Species Biology

Neritic (Ref. 11230). A coastal species that forms large schools (Ref. 188). Occur at temperatures ranging from 16° to 23°C in summer and from 10° to 18°C in winter. Feed mainly on planktonic crustaceans. Young fish feed on zooplankton such as copepod and adults on phytoplankton (Ref. 39882). Oviparous, with pelagic eggs, and pelagic larvae (Ref. 265). Possibly can live up to 25 years (Ref. 265). In the California region, pilchards make northward migrations early in summer and travel back south again in autumn. With each year of life, the migration becomes farther (Ref. 6885). Environment: pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); marine; depth range 0 - 200 m (Ref. 188). Climate: subtropical; 9 – 21°C (Ref. 6390); 61°N - 47°S, 145°W - 180°E

Source: FishBase. Whitehead, P.J.P. 1985 . (Ref. 188)

Distribution

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: southern Africa to the eastern Pacific (Ref. 27267). Three lineages were confirmed through cluster and parsimony analyses of haplotypic divergences: southern Africa (ocellatus) and Australia (neopilchardus); Chile (sagax) and California (caeruleus); and, Japan (melanostictus) (Ref. 36641).

Source: FishBase. Whitehead, P.J.P. 1985 . (Ref. 188)

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
NativeSNRNo StatusNAR (May 2002)



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Additional Range and Status Information Links

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 University of Alaska Museum

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