First Japanese Records of Sardinella albella (Teleostei: Clupeiformes: Clupeidae) from Okinawa Island, with a Key to Japanese Species of Sardinella

Abstract

Three specimens of the White Sardine (Clupeiformes: Clupeidae) Sardinella albella (Valenciennes, 1847), collected from Nakagusuku Bay, Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan in the early 20th century and recently discovered in the fish collection of the Department of Zoology, The University Museum, The University of Tokyo, represent the first records of the species (and seventh confirmed species of Sardinella Valenciennes, 1847) from Japanese waters. The morphology of the specimens is described in detail, and a diagnostic key provided for Japanese species of Sardinella.