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Sardina pilchardus, commonly known as the European pilchard or sardine, is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Sardina. It is a small, silvery, pelagic fish that forms large schools. It is a commercially important species, particularly in the Mediterranean and Atlantic regions, and is a staple in many diets.
Características físicas
- Formato do corpo
- elongated
- Coloração
- Dorsal side is bluish-green, fading to silvery flanks and a white belly. Often has a series of faint dark spots along the upper flanks, though these can be indistinct.
- Tipo de escama
- cycloid
- Posição da boca
- terminal
- Características distintivas
- Relatively large scales that are easily shed., A single, short dorsal fin located midway along the back., Absence of scales on the head., Operculum (gill cover) with radiating striae (grooves).
- Nadadeira dorsal
- Single, short, located approximately at the midpoint of the body, with 13-21 soft rays.
- Nadadeira caudal
- Deeply forked caudal fin.
- Nadadeira peitoral
- Small, located low on the body, with 15-18 soft rays.
- Nadadeiras características
- Pelvic fins are small and located beneath the dorsal fin. Anal fin is short, located far back on the body, with 12-23 soft rays.
Dicas de identificação
Size
Adults typically reach 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) in length, with a maximum recorded length of about 27 cm (11 inches).
Scales
Relatively large and easily detached scales, a key characteristic distinguishing them from some other clupeids.
Gill Cover (Operculum)
Presence of distinct radiating striae (grooves) on the operculum, which is a reliable identification feature.
Spots
Often has 1-8 faint dark spots along the upper flanks, though these can be absent or very indistinct in some individuals.
Keel
A series of sharp, keeled scales (scutes) along the belly, though less pronounced than in some other herring-like fishes.
Habitat
- Tipo de água
- saltwater
- Profundidade
- Typically found in coastal waters from the surface down to about 100-150 meters, occasionally deeper (up to 300 meters).
- Ambiente
- Pelagic, schooling species, inhabiting continental shelf waters. Prefers temperate and subtropical waters.
- Distribuição geográfica
- Eastern Atlantic Ocean from the southern North Sea and British Isles south to Senegal, including the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.
Informações sobre aquário
- Nível de cuidado: expert
- Temperamento: peaceful
- Alimentação: filter_feeder
- Tamanho mínimo do aquário: Not suitable for home aquariums due to schooling behavior and specific environmental needs.
- Temperatura: 10-20°C (50-68°F)
- Nível de pH: 7.8-8.4
- Dureza da água: Not applicable (marine species)
- Compatibilidade: Not suitable for mixed-species aquariums; requires large, specialized facilities for schooling species.
- Requisitos especiais: Requires extremely large, specialized tanks with strong filtration and water movement to simulate open ocean conditions. Not recommended for private aquarists.
Informações no ambiente natural
- Estado de conservação: least concern
- Sazonalidade: Peak fishing seasons vary by region, generally from spring to autumn, with specific local regulations.
- Preço de mercado: Varies significantly by region, season, and processing (fresh, canned, frozen). Generally affordable.
- Importância comercial: high
- Sabor: Rich, oily, distinct marine flavor.
- Textura: Soft, flaky, and moist when fresh; firmer when canned.
- Métodos de preparo: Grilled, Baked, Fried, Smoked, Canned (in oil, tomato sauce, or brine)
- Valor nutricional: Excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, calcium, and protein.
Fatos principais
Schooling Behaviorbehavior
Sardina pilchardus forms vast, dense schools, often numbering in the millions, which is a defense mechanism against predators and aids in feeding and reproduction.
Filter Feedersbehavior
These fish are primarily filter feeders, consuming plankton (copepods, diatoms, dinoflagellates) by swimming with their mouths open and filtering water through their gill rakers.
Short Lifespaninteresting
European pilchards typically have a relatively short lifespan, usually around 3-5 years, though some individuals can live up to 10 years.
Reproductive Strategybehavior
They are pelagic spawners, releasing large numbers of eggs and sperm into the open water, where fertilization and larval development occur.
Ecological Importanceinteresting
As a key forage fish, Sardina pilchardus plays a crucial role in marine food webs, serving as a primary food source for numerous larger fish, marine mammals, and seabirds.
Informações de segurança
Seguro- Nível de segurança: safe
- Venenoso: Não
- Comestibilidade: edible
- Observações de manuseio: No specific handling precautions are required. They are not venomous and do not possess sharp spines that pose a significant threat. Handle gently if alive to avoid damaging their delicate scales.
Espécies similares
Atlantic Herring
Clupea harengus
Atlantic herring generally lack the radiating striae on the operculum and typically do not have the distinct dark spots on the flanks. Their scales are also generally smaller and more firmly attached.
Round Sardinella
Sardinella aurita
Round sardinella have a more rounded body cross-section, a more pointed snout, and typically lack the radiating striae on the operculum. Their scales are also generally smaller and less easily shed.
Sprat
Sprattus sprattus
Sprats are generally smaller, have a more pronounced and sharper keel of scutes along the belly, and lack the radiating striae on the operculum. Their dorsal fin typically starts further forward than in Sardina pilchardus.
Classificação científica
- Reino
- Animalia
- Filo
- Chordata
- Classe
- Actinopterygii
- Ordem
- Clupeiformes
- Família
- Clupeidae
- Gênero
- Sardina
- Espécie
- Sardina pilchardus
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