Family : Clupeidae (Herrings, shads, sardines, menhadens)
Order : Clupeiformes  (herrings)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Rainbow sardine
Fish Name : Dussumieria acuta
Max size : 20.0 cm SL (male/unsexed; Ref. 188)
Environment : pelagic-neritic ; depth range 10 - 20 m
Climate : subtropical; 31°N - 7°S
Global Importance : fisheries: highly commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.8-1.2; tmax=1)Distribution : Indo-Pacific: Persian Gulf (and perhaps south to Somalia), along the coasts of Pakistan, India and Malaysia to Indonesia (Kalimantan) and the Philippines. Earlier records included Dussumieria elopsoides.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 14-18. Branchiostegal rays fewer (12 to 15) and posterior part of scales marked with numerous tiny radiating striae. Color is iridescent blue with a shiny gold or brass line below (quickly fading after death); hind margin of tail broadly dark. W-shaped pelvic scute; isthmus tapering evenly forward; more anal fin rays.
Biology : Mainly an inshore species. Earlier studies on the habitat and biology may have equally referred to D. elopsoides which this species closely resembles. Can also be caught with ringnets and dipnets
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Whitehead, P.J.P.. 1985. (Ref. 188)

India country information
Common Names : Rainbow sardine, ചാള, ಕೊಲು ಬೇಗೆ, மாதா கன்டை, कानात, सपराट तोक, மாதாக் கென்‍டை, தொன்டன், കൊളച്ചി, ಸಿರಿಅಂದಿ, കൊലകോയന്, കൊലകൊയന്, பூன்டுசுரங்கா, பொன்டீசெரீஙகா, பூன்டிவிருஞ்சன், பொன்டுவீரீஞ்சன், பொன்டுரீஙகா , పూండుఒరింగ , ಮೆನ್ನೆತಿ , കൊലകൊയന് , మాతకెండి  , தொன்டன் , ಮನ್ನೆತಿ , మర్రావ , കൊലാചി , ചാള്ള , మొరావ  , ചാരള , Challay, Charlay, Kola-koyan, Kolachi, Kolakoyan, Kolu baige, Madha kandai, Mannethi, Marrawa, Mennethe, Morava, Mothakendi, Poondivirinjan, Poonduouringa, Poondusuringa, Siriande, Sprat-tok, Thondon
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses