Round sardinella

It exhibits a typically sub-cylindrical morphology, although occasionally it may display slight compression. Its belly is fairly rounded, with visible scales. The number of lower gill rakers is notable, exceeding 80 in specimens from West Africa with standard lengths of 23 to 28 cm. The anterior gill rakers on the lower limbs of the second and third gill arches lie more or less flat. The presence of 8 rays in the pelvic fin distinguishes it from all other species of Sardinella, Harengula, Opisthonema, Herklotsichthys, and Amblygaster that coexist with it. Although it bears similarities to Clupea, it is distinguished by having two fleshy outgrowths along the outer margin of the gill opening and numerous fine frontoparietal striae on the top of the head. Its flanks are silvery with a faint golden mid-lateral line; it presents a faint golden spot behind the gill opening and a black spot on the hind border of the gill cover. The back varies between bluish-gray and sometimes greenish, while the sides are silvery to brassy, without spots or streaks. Its body is very slender and the scales may be deciduous.