Taxon name
Sardinella longiceps
Valenciennes, 1847
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Sardinella longiceps
Valenciennes, 1847
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Fishes
Species authority
Valenciennes, 1847
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
Specimens nominally identified as this species from the Philippines and Indonesia are likely to be incorrect identifications of the similar species Sardinella lemuru (Willette and Santos 2013). Recent analysis of micro-satellite markers suggests genetic differentiation of this species between the Gulf of Oman and the coast of India (Sebastian et al. 2017). Subsequent sub-structuring of this species within India revealed genetic differentiation between samples obtained from Mumbai and Mangalore on the western coast of India and the samples obtained from the southwest and eastern coast of India (Calicut, Kollam, Trivandrum, Chennai and Vizag: Sebastian et al. 2017).
Location and scope
Specific locality or subnational name or regional name
United Arab Emirates (the)
Scope (of the Assessment)
National
Countries included within the scope of the assessment
United Arab Emirates (the)
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Assessed as
Data deficient
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
Assessment rationale/justification
This pelagic speciesoccurs throughout UAE waters, and is globally restricted to the northern Indian Ocean region. It is heavily exploited in Iran, Oman, Pakistan and India, and severe declines have occurred over recent decades in western India, Pakistan and possibly Oman due to a combination of overexploitation and unfavorable environmental conditions. It is retained as bycatch in fisheries off the UAE and sold in markets, but is not particularly highly-valued. Its occurrence in markets has been stable over time with some suspected recent declines on the eastern coast. In general, it remains common in the UAE, but connectivity with populations outside that are apparently in decline, is poorly understood. Based on the uncertainty regarding the population trend of this exploited species, it is listed as Data Deficient in UAE waters until updated data become available. It is recommended to improve fisheries monitoring as well as the understanding of population connectivity within its range.
Assessment details
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Criteria system used
IUCN
Reference for methods given
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
Not assigned
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species occurs throughout UAE waters. Globally, it is distributed in the northern Indian Ocean from the Gulf of Aden to the Arabian Gulf to southeast India, and possibly the Andaman Islands. Specimens from the Philippines and Indonesia are probably misidentifications of Sardinella lemuru (Froese and Pauly 2007).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This pelagic-neritic, oceanodromous species schools in tropical waters between depths of 20-200 m (al Sakaff and Esseen 1999, Riede 2004, FAO-FIGIS 2005). It feeds mainly on phytoplankton (especially diatoms), small crustaceans, plants, and benthic invertebrates (Whitehead 1985, Sommer et al. 1996). It is found at temperatures of ~22.0-28.0 '°C. Its maximum standard length is 23 cm, maturity is reached at about one year of age and the maximum reported age is 3 years (Rosa and Laevastu 1960, Bykov 1983, Whitehead 1985).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
Population declines may have occurred off Oman due to exploitation and an increase in fish kill events predicated by low oxygen levels (Piontkovski and Queste 2016). Severe declines have also been reported from western India and Pakistan.
Publication
Ralph, G.M., Stump, E., Linardich, C., Bullock, R.W., Carpenter, K.E., Allen D.J., Hilton-Taylor, C., Al Mheiri, R., and Alshamsi, O. 2021. UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes. 2021. Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
