DIVE-SEEK field image · species photo unavailablefish · sardine
Southern African pilchard
Sardinops sagax
The small silver fish behind the Sardine Run, one of the largest animal migrations on earth.
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Quick facts
The Southern African pilchard (Sardinops sagax) is a marine species divers can encounter. Typical size: 15–20 cm. Usually seen at 0–30 m depth. Where to see it: Aliwal Shoal and Coromandel.
Summarised from DIVE-SEEK's recorded catalogue data; omitted values are not yet recorded.
Taxonomic rank
species
Typical size
15–20 cm (fork_length)
Maximum size
30 cm
Typical depth
0–30 m
Maximum depth
200 m
Conservation status
Research in progress
Photography difficulty
4 /5
Activity pattern
Diurnal.
Description
Accepted name confirmed via WoRMS (AphiaID 217452); the older regional name Sardinops ocellatus refers to the same species. The Sardine Run itself is a seasonal event whose scale varies enormously year to year. Conservation status not populated pending a verified Red List reading.
Habitat
Cool coastal shelf waters.
Behaviour
Forms enormous migrating shoals that compact into bait balls under predator pressure.
Diet
Plankton.
Social behaviour
Shoals of millions.
Photography notes
Open-ocean, boat-based and unpredictable, with fast-changing action. Wide angle, ambient light, freediving usually beats scuba.
Ask about Southern African pilchard
Answers are built only from our cited catalogue records — where data is missing, the assistant says so instead of guessing.
Where to see it
Destinations
Encounter records link species to destinations only when a verified source supports them.
Provenance — each verified claim is linked to its source as records are published.