Genus Harengula Cuvier and Valenciennes 1847" 



Sardines 



By 



Luis Rene Rivas 



Harengula Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., 20, 1847: 277; type species, H. latulus Cuvier and Valen- 

 ciennes (not Ciupea latulus Cuvier 1829) equals Clupea clupeola Cuvier 1829. 



Characters. Ventral scutes 25—32, usually 26—31. Scales 38—44, usually 39—43. 

 Vertical anterior edge of shoulder girdle (Clavicular margin) with a bilobed dermal 

 fold. Upper jaw without distinct median notch. Gill rakers on epibranchial of first 

 arch not folding downwards over those on the ceratobranchial; 26—40, usually 27—39, 

 on lower limb of first arch. Last ray of Dorsal fin not produced into a long filament. 

 Fin rays: dorsal 17—20, usually 17 or 18; anal 15—19, 17-19 in western Atlantic 

 species, usually 16—18; pelvic 7-9, usually 8; pectoral 13—17, usually 15 or 16. 

 Vertebrae 40—44. 



Size. The maximum size is about 1 70 mm. 



Range. Western North Atlantic in coastal waters of Bermuda, and from Florida 

 southward to Brazil. Pacific coast from the Gulf of California southward to Peru. 



Habits. Sardines are plankton feeders, and occur close to the coast, especially in 

 estuaries, where they usually congregate in compact schools near the surface. Certain 

 species ascend streams for short distances, but not beyond brackish water. 



Abundance and Relation to Man. Sardines are most abundant in bays and estuaries 

 where they may be captured with beach seines and cast nets. They are used for bait 

 and food throughout the West Indies and are utilized in the canning industries of 

 Cuba and Venezuela. 



Key to Species 



I a. Inner edge of palatines with a row of pointed teeth anteriorly; gill rakers 26—32, 

 usually 27—31, on lower limb of first arch; ventral scutes 25-29, usually 27 or 

 2 8 ; scales not adherent, easily falling off from either fresh or preserved specimens ; 

 snout 2.5—3.4, usually 2.6—3.3, i" distance between origins of pelvic and anal 

 fins; humeral spot absent. Average length 80— 140 mm. 



humeralis Cuvier 1829, p. 387. 



lb. Inner edge of palatines without a row of pointed teeth anteriorly; gill rakers 



44. Contribution No. 44 from the Ichthyological Laboratory and Museum, Department of Zoology, University of 

 Miami. 



386 



