Distinguishing Characteristics |
Body moderately deep, compressed; color green-blue above, sides and belly silvery, faint spot behind opercle; dorsal and caudal fins yellowish with dusky tips; typical herring mouth (short, deep lower jaw hidden by wide rounded upper jaw); belly with serrated keel; no frontal notch in upper jaw; no enlarged scales on back in front of dorsal fin; shoulder under opercle with 2 small lobes. |
Similar Species |
Similar to the Atlantic thread herring but the scaled sardine does not have an elongated, filamentous last dorsal ray. |
Habitat |
Gulf and bay |
Maximum Size |
21 cm (8 1/2 in), common to 12 cm (4 1/2 in) |
Fin Element Counts |
D. 17-20; A. 16-18 (explain) |
Other Common Names |
scaled herring |
Previous Scientific Names |
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Comments |
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State size/bag limits |
None; Check for state record. |