Madeiran Sardinella

Sardinella maderensis

The Madeiran Sardinella is a small, silvery fish found in the Eastern Atlantic and Southeastern Mediterranean regions. It resembles the round sardinella but can be distinguished by its gray caudal fin with black tips and the absence of a black spot on the hind part of its gill cover. Typically, it grows up to 30 cm, although some individuals may reach up to 35 cm. This species is known for its elongate body and variably protruding belly. The upper pectoral fin rays are white with a black membrane between them. Madeiran Sardinella inhabit coastal waters, often forming schools with the round sardinella. They are pelagic and oceanodromous, preferring depths up to 80 meters, with most occurrences shallower than 40 meters. They are adaptable to low salinities and can be found in estuaries and lagoons. Their diet consists mainly of phytoplankton and fish larvae. Breeding occurs once a year during the warm season from July to September in coastal waters. The species exhibits migratory behavior, with juveniles and adults moving between nurseries in the Gabon-Congo-Angola and Sierra Leone-Mauritania sectors. The Madeiran Sardinella is currently classified as Vulnerable due to overexploitation, with a noted decline in population size.