East African Sardinella

Distinguished from all other clupeids along the East African coast by its pelvic fin ray count of i 8. Very closely resembles S. longiceps, but its head shorter and lower gill rakers fewer. A faint golden spot behind gill opening, followed by a faint golden mid-lateral line; a distinct black spot at hind border of gill cover (absence of silver pigment).

Breeding biology is perhaps similar to S. longiceps.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 21; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 12 - 23

Forms schools in coastal waters. Feeds presumably mainly on phytoplankton like S. longiceps.

Forms schools in coastal waters. Feeds presumably mainly on phytoplankton like S. longiceps and its breeding biology is perhaps similar to that species too. Apparently not abundant, occurring mostly during the northeast monsoon period (November-January).

fisheries: minor commercial; price category: medium; price reliability: questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this genus

Sardinella neglecta (East African sardinella) is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Sardinella from the Indian Ocean, from the east coast of Africa.

Forms schools in coastal waters. Feeds presumably mainly on phytoplankton like @S. longiceps@ and its breeding biology is perhaps similar to that species too. Apparently not abundant, occurring mostly during the northeast monsoon period (November-January).