Blacktip Sardinella

Sardinella melanura is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Sardinella.

Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-21; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 23. Body depth usually not much more than 30% of standard length; scutes 27 to 31. The jet black caudal tips distinguish S. melanura from all other species of Sardinella except S. atricauda (scutes 32 to 35), S. hualiensis (dark spot at dorsal fin origin, scales fimbriated and with small perforations) and S. fijiense (gill rakers 87 to 134).

Max length is 20,3 cm. Common length is 10 cm.

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific: Gulf of Aden south to Madagascar and Mauritius and east to the Arabian Sea and northwestern India (apparently not found south of Bombay nor in northern Bay of Bengal); then from the Philippines and Indonesia (but not in South China Sea) to Samoa. Reported from the Penghu Islands.

Habitat

Form schools in coastal waters.