Sardinops

Sardinops is a genus of sardines of the family Alosidae. Often considered monotypic with only member as Sardinops sagax, it currently has three valid species: Sardinops melanosticta (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846) (Japanese pilchard) Sardinops ocellatus (Pappe, 1853) (Southern African pilchard) Sardinops sagax (Jenyns, 1842) Sardinops sagax caeruleus (Girard, 1854) (Californian pilchard) Sardinops sagax musica (Girard, 1855) Sardinops sagax neopilchardus (Steindachner, 1879) (Australian pilchard)

It is found in the Indo-Pacific, East Pacific, Southeastern Atlantic and southwestern Indian oceans. Its length is up to . It has numerous common or vernacular names, some of which more appropriately refer to subspecies, including blue pilchard, blue-bait, Peruvian Pacific sardine (S. s. sagax), South American pilchard, Chilean sardine, and Pacific sardine.