4 1 o Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 



The numerous specimens from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, examined and measured in 

 part, differ somewhat from those taken at Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, which serve chiefly 

 as the basis for this description. In fact, the former are less distantly removed from 

 specimens of anchovia from the eastern United States than from those of Trinidad, as 

 the eye runs a little smaller (5-75-7-25 "/o of SL), the maxillary is rather shorter (9.5- 

 1 1 "/o of SL), the pectoral is a little shorter (16—18 »/o of SL), and the gill rakers are 

 somewhat less numerous (108-117 in specimens 97—109 mm SL). Therefore, a sub- 

 specific difference is suggested. Indeed, it seems highly probable that further study 

 will show some intergradation among all species recognized in these pages. 



S. brasiliensis, like S. anchovia, apparently was incorrectly synonomized with 

 S. aurita of Europe and elsewhere by Regan (p. 405). According to data based on 

 specimens from Messina, Sicily, its type locality, aurita grows larger than brasiliensis 

 and has fewer gill rakers in examples of equal size. These species may therefore be 

 regarded as valid unless further evidence shows this opinion to be incorrect. 



Commercial Importance. This sardine is of at least some commercial importance at 

 Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, where Waldo L. Schmitt of the U. S. National Museum ob- 

 tained from the market (April 18, 1939) the fine series of specimens used in preparing 

 the foregoing description. It is abundant and occurs also in large numbers in the market 

 at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but southward in the state of Sao Paulo it is less numerous 

 (25: 188). « 



Range. The west coast of Florida, the West Indies, and Venezuela to southern 

 Brazil. Not reported for Mexico to Colombia. 



Synonyms and References: 



Clupea brasiliensis Steindachner, S. B. Akad. Wiss. Wien, 80, 1 879; Ichthyol. Beitr., 8 : 64 (orig. descr.;*' type 



local. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). 

 Sardinella aurita Regan (in part), Ann. Mag. nat. Hist., (8) /p, 1917: 378 (synon., in part anchovia; descr. 



in part; range); Campos, Arqu. Zool. estad. Sao Paulo (1941), J (7), 1942: 188, fig. 2 (synon., descr., 



abund. in market, range, specimens coU. in Brazil); Oliveira (not of Cuvier and Valenciennes), Min. 



Agr. Dep. Nac. Pro. Anim., Div. Caga e Pesca, 1942: 22 (ref, range). 

 Clupanodon pseudohispanicus Beebe and Tee- Van (in part anchovia), Zoologica, N.Y., 10 (i), 1928: 39 (refs., 



field char., discus.). 

 Sardinella brasiliensis Longley in Longley and Hildebrand, Publ. Carneg. Instn. Wash., 535, 1941". 7 (cf. 



anchovia and aurita). 



Doubtful References: 



Clupanodon pseudohispanicus Evermann and Kendall, Rep. U. S. Comm. Fish. (1899), igoo: 55 (Pensacola 

 and Snapper Banks, Florida). 



48. The Brazilian Sardinha, or Sardinha Verdadeira (true sardine), is the most important market fish in the area between 

 Victoria, Espirito Santo, and Santos, Sao Paulo. It is not taken commonly north of this area, and it is to be questioned 

 that this fish is identical with the populations farther to the north. — G.S.M. 



49. Fowler has shown that Clupea brasiliensis Steindachner 1879 is a primary homonym of Clupea brasiliensis Schneider 

 1801 (equals Albula '-vulpcs). Fowler uses the specific name allecia (of Rafinesque), but the latter applies to European 

 fish, which Fowler, following Regan, would apparendy unite with the American form. If the American form is 

 distinct it would appear to be nameless, unless changes in the International Rules of Zoological Nomenclature, 

 now said to be imminent, would restore the availability of Steindachner 's name. Until this genus is adequately 

 revised for the entire Atlantic and the relationships of the American and European populations are worked out, 

 it would seem premature to disturb the nomenclature. — G. S. M. 



