About Sardinella aurita Valenciennes, 1847
The round sardinella, scientifically named Sardinella aurita, is a ray-finned fish species belonging to the genus Sardinella. This species can be found in both the western and eastern Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and it is occasionally found in the Black Sea. It is a small, pelagic fish that lives in warm tropical and subtropical waters. Around 1990, the catch population of round sardinella saw a large boom, and its population numbers have remained very stable in recent years. Its gonads begin development in April, reaching full maturity one month later. Eggs and larvae of this species are abundant in plankton within spawning regions from the end of June through September. Round sardinella prefer shallower waters at a temperature of approximately 24 °C (75 °F), and can be found at depths reaching up to 350 m (1,150 ft). It is a schooling fish that feeds on phytoplankton and zooplankton, including copepods.
