Marine; brackish; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous ; depth range 0 - 350 m . Subtropical; 18°C - 25°C ; 47°N - 40°S, 98°W - 43°E

Maturity: Lm 18.8, range 13 - 25 cm Max length : 41.0 cm TL male/unsexed; ; common length : 25.0 cm SL male/unsexed; ; max. published weight: 420.00 g ; max. reported age: 7 years

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17 - 20; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 16 - 18; Vertebrae: 47 - 49. Diagnosis: Body elongate, usually subcylindrical, but sometimes a little compressed; belly rather rounded, but with a distinct keel of scutes; lower gillrakers fine and numerous, more than 80; anterior gillrakers on lower limbs of second and third gill arches lying more or less flat ( Ref. 188, 2945, 81269, 81631). Flanks silvery, with a faint golden midlateral line, preceded by a faint golden spot behind gill opening; a distinct black spot at hind border of gill cover . The pelvic finray count of 1 unbranched and 8 branched rays distinguishes Sardinella aurita from all other species of Sardinella, also Harengula, Opisthonema, Herklotsichthys and Amblygaster, that occur with it . It resembles Clupea, but has two fleshy outgrowths along outer margin of gill opening and numerous fine fronto-parietal striae on top of head .
Body shape (shape guide): elongated;  Cross section: compressed.