Sardine

For the hide and seek-like game, see Hide and seek.

Sardines or pilchards are a group of several types of small oily fish related to herrings, family Clupeidae. The terms are not precise, and the usual meanings vary by region; for instance, to many people a "sardine" is a young European pilchard. FishBase, a comprehensive database of information about fish, lists at least six species called just "pilchard," over a dozen called just "sardine," and many more with the two basic names qualified by various adjectives.

Canned "sardines" seen in supermarkets may actually be sprats or round herrings.

Classification

Genus Dussumeria
- Rainbow sardine Dussumieria acuta
- Slender rainbow sardine Dussumieria elopsoides
Genus Escualosa
- Slender white sardine Escualosa elongata
- White sardine Escualosa thoracata
Genus Sardina
- European pilchard (true sardine) Sardina pilchardus
Genus Sardinella
- Round sardinella (gilt sardine, Spanish sardine) Sardinella aurita
Genus Sardinops
- South American pilchard (Pacific sardine, California sardine, Chilean sardine, South African sardine) Sardinops sagax (Jenyns, 1842)

Sardine in popular culture

Philippines

Sardines also play an important role in the Philippine culture. Canned sardines (such as Mega Sardines) are popular with the people of the Philippines since it is a cheap source of food. A can of sardines usually cost around 10PhP (20 US cents) and can serve up to 4 people. The Sardines business in the Philippines is a industry with low profit margins, its primary aim is to help the impovrished people of the Philippines by providing them with a cheap and healty source of food. Zamboanga City is the Sardine capital of the Philippines.

Portugal

Sardines play an important role in Portuguese culture. Having been a people who depended heavily on the sea for food and commerce, the Portuguese have a predilection for fish in their popular festivities. The most important is Saint Anthony's day, 13th June, when the biggest popular festival takes place in Lisbon, taking the people to the streets where grilled sardines are the snack of choice. Almost every place in Portugal, from Figueira da Foz to Portalegre, or from Póvoa de Varzim to Olhão has the summertime popular tradition of eating grilled sardines (sardinhas assadas).