Sardinops
genus of fishes
Sardinops is a genus of sardines of the family Alosidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific, East Pacific, Southeastern Atlantic, and southwestern Indian oceans. Its length is up to 40 cm (16 in). It has numerous common or vernacular names, some of which more appropriately refer to subspecies, including blue pilchard, blue-bait, South American pilchard, Chilean sardine, and Pacific sardine.
Often considered monotypic with only member as Sardinops sagax, it currently has three valid extant species:
Sardinops melanosticta (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846) (Japanese pilchard)
Sardinops ocellatus (Pappe, 1853) (Southern African pilchard)
Sardinops sagax (Jenyns, 1842)
Sardinops sagax caeruleus (Girard, 1854) (Californian pilchard)
Sardinops sagax musica (Girard, 1855)
Sardinops sagax neopilchardus (Steindachner, 1879) (Australian pilchard)
Sardinops sagax sagax (Jenyns, 1842) (Peruvian Pacific sardine)
An extinct species, S. humboldti, was described in 2025 from Miocene fossils found in southern Peru.
South Australian sardine fishery
The South Australian sardine fishery targets Sardinops sagax and is the highest yielding single species fishery in Australia by volume. The fishery employs the technique of purse seining, which contributes to the sardines' status as sustainable. Schools of sardines are encircled by a net up to 1 kilometre in length which is then drawn closed at the bottom. The catch is then pumped on board the fishing vessel where it is stored in refrigerated holds at below freezing temperatures. 94% of the catch is used as feed in Southern bluefin tuna ranching operations off Port Lincoln, South Australia.
The public source identifies “Sardinops” as genus of fishes. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Sardinops, genus and fishes.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Sardinops”, the useful work is to connect “genus of fishes” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 24, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q13403032. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1846, 1853, 1842 and 1854.
A general summary may omit uncertainty, sample limits or methodological disagreement that is explicit in the technical record. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Sardinops”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Sardinops primary sources, Sardinops archive and Sardinops research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Sardinops”?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Sardinops” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.