Sardinella ventura n. sp. (Actinopterygii: Clupeiformes: Clupeidae), a new sardine from Mauritius.

Abstract

The new sardine Sardinella ventura n. sp. (Teleostei: Clupeiformes: Clupeidae) is described on the basis of 10 specimens collected from Mauritius. The new species is most similar to Sardinella dayi Regan 1917 in having non-deciduous scales with pores and discontinuous striae, a dark spot on the dorsal-fin origin, the pelvic fin with 8 rays, and similar number of gill rakers, in addition to very similar numbers of keeled scutes. However, the new species is distinguished from S. dayi by having a shorter caudal peduncle [6.27.6% SL (mean 7.0%) vs. 8.212.0% (9.2%) in S. dayi], larger eye [8.49.9% (9.0%) vs. 6.88.0% (7.4%)] and orbit [9.612.3% (10.7%) vs. 8.510.2% (9.3%)], longer pectoral [21.022.7% (21.5%) vs. 17.021.0% (19.8%)] and pelvic fins [12.513.5% (12.8%) vs. 10.412.2% (11.2%)], and a greater numbers of pseudobranchial filaments [1719 (modally 17) vs. 1822 (19)], lateral scale rows in longitudinal series [4143 (41) vs. 3842 (40)] and transverse scales [11 or 12 (12) vs. 11]. There were significant differences in seven meristic and 14 morphometric characters between the two species.