Sardinella brachysoma Bleeker, 1852
Deepbody sardinella
Sardinella brachysoma
photo by Gloerfelt-Tarp, T.

Family:  Dorosomatidae (Gizzard shads and sardinellas)
Max. size:  13 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 0 - 50 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Madagascar (but apparently not elsewhere in the western Indian Ocean), Madras, Indonesia, northern Australia. Chan's Hong Kong and Taipei specimens were most likely Sardinella hualiensis. Occurrence in Thailand (Ref. 1632) needs to be confirmed.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-21; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 12-23. Body deep; total scutes 29 to 32. Vertical striae on scales overlapping or sometimes continuous at center of scale, numerous small perforations on hind part of scale. Closely resembles S. hualiensis which has dark dorsal and caudal fin tips. Differs from other deep-bodied species chiefly in its lower gill raker count and presence of a dark spot at dorsal fin of origin.
Biology:  Forms schools in coastal waters (Ref. 188, 75154).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 02 March 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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