Australian Sardine, Sardinops sagax (Jenyns 1842)

Other Names: Australian Pilchard, Bloater, Blue Bait, Blue Pilchard, Bluebait, Blue-bait, Mulie, Mulies, Picton Herring, Pilchard, Sardine, Smig, South American Pilchard, Westralian Pilchard

Summary:

A steely-blue sardine above, with silvery sides and ventral surface, a longitudinal row of evenly spaced small dark blue spots along the blue and silver interface, and fine black spots on the outer margins of the dorsal and caudal fins.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2021, Sardinops sagax in Fishes of Australia, accessed 03 Mar 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2067

Quick Facts

CAAB Code:37085002

Conservation:IUCN Least Concern

Depth:0-200 m

Habitat:Pelagic, coastal waters

Max Size:30 cm TL

Species Image Gallery

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Distribution	Off Fraser Island, Queensland, around southern Australia to Kalbarri, Western Australia, including Tasmania. Elsewhere the species is widespread in anti-tropical waters with five geographically isolated subpopulations. The species is pelagic and forms Forms large schools in coastal waters often appearing at the surface during summer months, but staying well submerged during winter.
Features	Dorsal fin 17-20; Anal fin 16-20; Caudal fin 19; Pectoral fin 17-18; Pelvic fin 8-9. Body shallow (18-21% SL), elongate, almost oval in cross section, tapering gradually to slender caudal peduncle. Head small (25-27% SL), eyes of moderate size (23-29% HL); well developed transparent adipose tissue adjacent eye covering half of snout laterally and area just behind eye; mouth small (upper jaw length 40-43% HL), oblique, maxillae broad, reaching to below anterior half of eye; teeth absent. Scales moderately small, cycloid, weakly attached, covering body but absent from head; 44-50 oblique scale rows on sides, those on underside of body compressed into very low ridge with weak scutes, not compressed into ridge on back; lateral line absent. Dorsal fin with short base located centrally on back, anterior rays much longer than posterior rays; anal fin moderately low and short, located near caudal fin, last two rays elongate; caudal fin deeply forked. Pectoral fins of moderate size, located on ventral profile of body behind head; pelvic fins small, arising beneath centre of dorsal fin; pectoral and pelvics with fleshy axillary tissue, not scales.
Feeding	Congregates in large schools and feeds by sieving plankton from the water with the numerous elongate gill rakers.
Fisheries	A highly commercial species throughout much of its range, supporting some of the largest global fisheries. These are also very important food fishes for many large marine predators, and are taken commercially for use as bait.
Etymology	The specific name is from the Latin sagax (= acute, sharp, of quick perception).
Species Citation	Clupea sagax Jenyns 1842, Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle: 134. Type locality: Lima, San Lorenzo Island, Peru.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2021
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Australian Sardine, Sardinops sagax (Jenyns 1842)