Taxonomy. First record from Lebanon as Clupea (Sardinella) aurita C.V. by Gruvel (1931: 83); subsequently recorded as Sardinella aurita Valenciennes 1847 by George et al. (1964: 11); as Sardinella aurita Valenciennes by Mouneimné (1977: 61); as Sardinella aurita Valenciennes 1847 by Mouneimné (2002: 70); recently recorded as Sardinella aurita by Bariche et al. (2007: 112). Material in collection: ANSP, AUBM, BMNH, MCZ, UF, USNM and YPM.
Distribution. Western Atlantic: Cape Cod (Massachusetts, U.S.A.) south to Uruguay, including Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea; Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Marmara, Black Sea, eastern Atlantic: Portugal south to Namibia.
Conservation. IUCN: Global (LC: 23 August 2012); Med. (LC: 14 November 2007). Capture and threats: FIT, HAB, NIS, unknown. Occurrence: Very common. Low priority for conservation action.