First Japanese Specimen-based Records of Sardinella gibbosa (Teleostei: Clupeiformes: Clupeidae) from Okinawa Island

Abstract

Eighteen specimens of Sardinella gibbosa (Bleeker, 1849) collected from Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan represent the first Japanese specimen-based records of the species. All specimens conformed closely to the diagnosis of S. gibbosa, having the caudal fin uniformly pale, a black spot on the dorsal-fin origin, body scales with centrally discontinuous striae, 26−31+50–57=77–88 gill rakers on the first gill arch, and 18 or 19+14 or 15=32–34 keeled scutes along the body ventral surface. In addition, some previous Japanese records of unidentified clupeoid fishes are reviewed.