Depth
Sardinella · Bony Fish

Madeiran Sardinella

Sardinella maderensis

0-80m
Depth Range
30cm
Max Size
Mediterranean
Distribution
0-80m
Depth Range
30cm
Max Size
Pelagic
Habitat
Planktivore
Diet
Schooling
Social
LC
IUCN Status
Low
Sighting Likelihood
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassActinopterygii
GenusSardinella
Speciesmaderensis

Bony Fish

Identification & Biology

  • IdentificationSmall, elongated fish with a rounded belly. Blue-green back with silver flanks and a distinctive dark spot on the gill cover. Similar to the round sardinella but with fewer gill rakers.
  • SizeUp to 30 cm total length, commonly 15 to 20 cm.
  • Social HabitHighly gregarious, forming large pelagic schools near the surface, often mixed with other small pelagic species.
  • HabitatCoastal pelagic waters near the surface. Found in bays, harbours, and along the coast.
  • DepthSurface to 100 m, most common in the upper 30 m.
  • Feeds OnZooplankton and small crustaceans filtered from the water.
  • DistributionEastern Atlantic from the Canary Islands to West Africa, now expanding into the Mediterranean Sea as waters warm.
  • DescriptionA warm-water sardinella that has expanded its range northward into the Mediterranean as sea temperatures rise. Now regularly found in Maltese waters, its increasing abundance is an indicator of the Mediterranean's changing climate. Schools mix with sardines and other small pelagic fish.

Range

Habitat & Distribution

Inhabits warm coastal waters from the surface to about 80 m depth. Found in nearshore pelagic environments, often entering bays and lagoons.

Where Malta divers have spotted this species

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Sightings are logged by divers using our What Did You See? dive-log tool. View the full live sightings map.

Detail

Preferred Environment

Prefers warm shallow waters close to shore. Common in harbours, bays, and along sandy coastlines where nutrient-rich water supports plankton blooms.

Encounter Tips

Best approached slowly and calmly. Avoid casting shadows directly over the animal. Neutral buoyancy and patience increase encounter success significantly.

Madeiran Sardinella species card

Biology

Behaviour & Diet

Feeding Strategy

Filters phytoplankton and small zooplankton from the water using fine gill rakers. Feeds actively near the surface in large aggregated schools.

Filter feeder

Reproduction

Spawns in coastal waters during summer. Pelagic eggs and larvae develop in surface waters, with juveniles forming schools in sheltered nearshore areas.

Coastal spawner

Behaviour & Defence

Forms extremely dense schools that create a confusing visual effect for predators. Rapid, synchronised changes in direction help the school evade attack.

Synchronised schooling

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Where to Encounter in Malta

Dive sites where Sardinella maderensis may be encountered will be added as sighting data is collected.

IUCN Red ListLeast Concern

Conservation Status

This species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Mediterranean populations face ongoing pressure from fishing activity, habitat degradation, and climate-driven changes.

Source: IUCN Red List
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