This small, pelagic fish is a member of the family Clupeidae (that includes the herring). It is very common in the Mediterranean and has gregarious and migratory habits. It feeds on very small plankton and has a slim, cylindrical body covered with large scales that came away easily even when freshly caught. The small mouth is set at the very front of the face and the pelvic fins are situated posteriorly to the origin of the dorsal fin. While its back is greenish-blue, the underside is silver and free of scales. The species has separate sexes and reproduces during the winter months, when it makes for its spawning grounds in the open sea where the water is deeper and warmer than in coastal areas. The eggs are pelagic and each female can lay several tens of thousands; fertilization is external. Sardines live in vast shoals consisting of hundreds and even thousands of same-sized individuals; they can reach a maximum size of 20-25 cm, even though the average length is slightly less. In the Gulf of Trieste sardines are mainly caught using lamps and surrounding nets during the months of April-September. Minimum size is 11 cm.