Species: Harengula humeralis, Redear Sardine

Harengula humeralis (Cuvier, 1829)

Redear Sardine

Body fusiform, moderately compressed; upper and lower body profiles both convex; mouth at front, lower jaw a little projecting; no notch at center front of top jaws; top jaw with 3 toothed bones; tooth plates on and behind tongue narrow (width = 10% of their combined length); rear margin of gill opening with two fleshy lobes; lower gill rakers usually 27-31; operculum smooth without bony striae; dorsal fine slightly before middle of body, no elongate filament; anal fin base short (15-19 rays), origin well behind dorsal fin; pelvics 7 branched rays, insert closer to insertion of pectoral fin base than to origin of anal fin; a forked tail fin; row of 25-29 keeled scutes (bony scales) along belly; scales thin, loose, easily lost.

Irridescent blue-green on back, with faint dark longitudinal lines; silvery on sides; an orange spot behind top corner of operculum; 3-4 narrow orange stripes along body; tips of front dorsal rays dark.

Size: grows to 26.5 cm.

Habitat: marine coastal, pelagic; clear waters around coral reefs over seagrass beds.

Depth: 0-10 m?

Bermuda to Brazil.