Sardina pilchardus

Size range: 18-25 cm

Common size: 18-20 cm

Depth range: 5-60 m

Habitat:

• Littoral species (could be over sand or rocks)

Water column position:

• Pelagic-Neritic

Schooling characteristics:

• Large schools

Colors & patterns:

• Green to blue back, silvery sides, white belly.
• Slender body
• dark dots along lateral line (not always visible)

Behavior:

• Transient - not related to specific sites
• Form shoals
• Sinuous swimming (with curves and turns) when in shoals

2. Activity:

• Diurnal
• Nocturnal
• Both
• Crepuscular

3. Approach:

• ?

5. Feeding characteristics

• Planktonic crustaceans

Native/Exotic: Native

EM notes: According to the guide it is found mainly in the west but was found in some surveys in Israel