Bleeker's blacktip sardinella (Sardinella atricauda)

Scientific name: Sardinella atricauda G?nther, 1868

The Bleeker's blacktip sardinella (Sardinella atricauda) is a marine fish of the family Clupeidae. Native range: Western Pacific, Indonesia. Occurs with Sardinella melanura in the Java Sea and must have been confused with it frequently.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-21; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 23. Body slender; total scutes 32 to 35 (pre-pelvic scutes usually 19). Lower gill rakers with many asperities on them. Vertical striae on scales not meeting at the center, numerous small perforations on hind part of scale. No dark spot at dorsal fin origin; tips of caudal fin black. Most closely resembles S. melanura which has fewer scutes.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Sardinella atricauda
Family: Clupeidae (Herrings, shads and sardines)
Order: Clupeiformes (Herrings)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 12.6
Common length: 10.0
Depth range: 0–50 m (0–164 ft)
Environment: Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 0 - 50 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Western Pacific: Indonesia. Occurs with Sardinella melanura in the Java Sea and must have been confused with it frequently.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026