Amblygaster leiogaster (Valenciennes, 1847)
Smoothbelly sardinella
photo by Gloerfelt-Tarp, T.

Family:  Dorosomatidae (Gizzard shads and sardinellas)
Max. size:  23 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 0 - 50 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: coasts of Africa eastward to Okinawa, Japan; south to Western Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-21; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 12-23. Body moderately slender, belly rather rounded, scutes not prominent. Distinguished from A. sirm by the absence of spots along the flank (gold in life, black on preservation) and fewer lower gill rakers. Closely resembles A. clupeoides, which has fewer lower gill rakers.
Biology:  A schooling species occurring in coastal waters (Ref. 188, 75154).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 02 March 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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