A new species of sardine, Sardinellapacifica from the Philippines (Teleostei, Clupeiformes, Clupeidae).

Harutaka Hata,Hiroyuki Motomura

doi:10.3897/zookeys.829.30688

Abstract

A new sardine, Sardinellapacificasp. n., is described on the basis of 21 specimens collected from the Philippines. The new species closely resembles Sardinellafimbriata (Valenciennes, 1847), both species having lateral scales with centrally discontinuous striae, a dark spot on the dorsal-fin origin, more than 70 lower gill rakers on the first gill arch, the pelvic fin with eight rays, and 17 or 18 prepelvic and 12 or 13 postpelvic scutes. However, the new species is distinguished from the latter by lower counts of lateral scales, pseudobranchial filaments, and postpelvic scutes (38–41, 14–19 and 12–13, respectively vs. 44–46, 19–22 and 13–14), and a shorter lower jaw (10.4–11.6% of standard length vs. 11.1–12.2%). Sardinellapacificasp. n. is known only from the Philippines, whereas S.fimbriata is restricted to the Indian Ocean, although previously considered to be an Indo-West Pacific species, distributed from India to the Philippines.

Highlights

Sardinella Valenciennes, 1847, an Indo-Pacific and Atlantic genus of marine, brackish and/or fresh water sardines (Clupeidae), comprises 22 valid species (Whitehead 1985, Stern et al 2016)
All measurements were made with digital calipers to the nearest 0.01 mm
The new species is assignable to the genus Sardinella, defined by Whitehead (1985) and Munroe et al (1999), due to its compressed body, abdomen covered with prominently keeled scutes, paired predorsal scales, a symmetrical second supramaxilla, toothless hypo-maxilla, two posteriormost anal-fin rays enlarged, the dorsal fin without filamentous rays, and two fleshy outgrowths on the hind margin of the gill opening

Summary

Introduction

Sardinella Valenciennes, 1847, an Indo-Pacific and Atlantic genus of marine, brackish and/or fresh water sardines (Clupeidae), comprises 22 valid species (Whitehead 1985, Stern et al 2016). A species of Sardinella with the following combination of characters: caudal fin with black posterior margin; lateral body scales with centrally discontinuous vertical striae, and few perforations and pores posteriorly; 38–41 (modally 38) lateral scales in longitudinal series; body scales deciduous; black spot on dorsal-fin origin; pelvic fin with one unbranched and seven branched rays; gill rakers 40–53 (43) in upper series on 1st gill arch, 71–84 (72) in lower series, 112–137 (118) in total; gill rakers 40–56 (42) in upper series on 2nd gill arch, 70–94 (79) in lower series, 112–148 (115) in total; gill rakers 37–52 (42) in upper series on 3rd gill arch, 57–75 (60) in lower series, 95–127 (99) in total; gill rakers 31–43 (35) in upper series on 4th gill arch, 44–63 (48) in lower, 78–106 (80) in total; gill rakers 30–43 (34) on hind face of 3rd gill arch; 17 or 18 (18) + 12 or 13 (13) = 29–31 (30) scutes on ventral edge of body; anal fin with 18–21 (20) rays; lower jaw rather short, 10.4–11.6% of SL.

Results

Conclusion