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. 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. Looks like: Sardinella maderensis (Madeiran sardinella): both are silvery, schooling, coastal pelagic fish. S. maderensis has gray caudal fins (tail fins) with black tips, unlike S. aurita’s typically uniform coloration.