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The species names / identity need verification - original names from plate are included here. The original plates showed the fishes facing right and have been flipped here. Dussumieria acuta

Rainbow sardine

Small iridescent fish of the Indo-Pacific and Mediterranean.

Photo: C. Achilles, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The rainbow sardine is a small marine fish found across the Indo-Pacific and recently in the Mediterranean. It supports commercial fisheries and aquaculture with its distinctive blue and gold colouring that fades after death.

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  • Reaches a maximum length of 22 cm.
  • Iridescent blue colour fades after death.
  • Invaded Mediterranean via Suez Canal.
  • Important to commercial fisheries and aquaculture.
  • Found in marine and estuarine waters.

What it is

This bony fish displays an iridescent blue body with a shiny gold or brass line running below the side. This vibrant colour fades quickly once the animal dies. The tail fin has a broadly dark rear edge. Distinctive features include a W-shaped pelvic scute and an isthmus that tapers evenly forward. It possesses between 14 and 18 soft rays on its anal fin. Adults reach a maximum length of 22 centimetres.

Where it lives

The species inhabits marine and estuarine environments across the Indo-Pacific. Its range extends from the Persian Gulf, possibly reaching south to Somalia, through Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. It is also found in Indonesia, specifically Kalimantan, and the Philippines. Recently, this fish has appeared in the Mediterranean Sea. It entered this new region as a Lessepsian migrant, passing through the Suez Canal from the Red Sea.

Rainbow sardine
A drawing made by EveryFish from what this page says. It is a diagram, not a picture of the real fish.

Fish and people

The rainbow sardine holds importance for both commercial fisheries and aquaculture operations. Fishers target it for food production due to its abundance in coastal and estuarine zones. Its role in local economies is significant in countries like Sri Lanka, where it appears on lists of common commercial fish. The species supports industry practices rather than just subsistence fishing.

Questions people ask about Rainbow sardine

Where does the rainbow sardine live?

It lives in marine and estuarine waters across the Indo-Pacific, including the Persian Gulf, India, and Southeast Asia. It has also migrated into the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal.

How big does this fish get?

The rainbow sardine is a small fish. The maximum recorded length for an adult is 22 centimetres, making it suitable for various commercial fishing methods.

Why is it called rainbow sardine?

The name comes from its iridescent blue body and a shiny gold or brass line along its side. These colours are vibrant in life but fade quickly after the fish dies.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Rainbow sardine", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.

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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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