Japanese Sardinella

Total scutes 29 to 32. Vertical striae on scales overlapping or continuous (discontinuous in S. fimbriata and S. albella), only a few small perforations on hind part of scale. No dark spot at dorsal fin origin. Most closely resembles S. richardsoni, which has more gill rakers and has a slightly deeper body; S. hualiensis has black tips to dorsal and caudal fins.

Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Analspines: 0

Forms schools in coastal waters.

Found near shore, including semi-enclosed sea areas, on sandy mud bottom (Ref. 11230). Forms schools in coastal waters. Used in Chinese medicine (Ref. 12166).

fisheries: highly commercial; price category: low; price reliability: reliable: based on ex-vessel price for this species