Indian Sardine
Sardinella lemuru · sar-din-EL-la leh-MOO-roo
nocturnalschoolsLeast Concern
EdibleFriendly
Superpower
Gathers in millions to form swirling 'sardine tornadoes' that dazzle predators.
At a glance
- Size
- typically 15 cm, up to 23 cm
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years
- Depth
- 10–100 m
Habitat
Coastal pelagic waters, schooling near the surface at night.
Diet
Plankton, filtered from the water.
Can I eat it?
Yes — edible · tastiness 6/10.
How to cook: Bottled as Spanish-style sardines, fried, or dried; the famous 'tamban/tinapa'.
Fun facts
- Moalboal in Cebu has a year-round sardine run with millions of fish.
- Tamban is one of the cheapest and most important food fish in the country.
- The huge schools twist into shapes to confuse hunting tuna and jacks.