Meaning & use
Sardina
Last updated
UK/sɑːˈdiː.nə/
US/sɑːrˈdiː.nə/
Meaning
proper nounproperbiology
The scientific genus of small oily fish that includes the European pilchard, Sardina pilchardus.
Grammar: Written in italics with a capital S in scientific writing.
Patterns
- the genus Sardina
The genus Sardina contains a single living species, the European pilchard.
Biologists classify the common sardine in Sardina pilchardus.
Fish in the genus Sardina travel in large schools in the Atlantic.
Common combinations
- genus Sardina
- The genus Sardina is part of the herring family.
- Sardina pilchardus
- Sardina pilchardus is the species name.
- Sardina catch
- The annual Sardina catch fell this year.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sardine
- Sardine is the common name for fish in this genus and others, whereas Sardina is the precise scientific name.
- pilchard
- Pilchard is another common name, usually for larger sardines of the same species.
Word family
Commonly confused: Sardina or Sardinia?
Sardina vs Sardinia
Sardinia is an island in Italy, while Sardina is the fish genus named after it.
Practice
What is Sardina in biology?
Choose one answer.
Sardina is a genus of fish that includes the sardine. The island is spelled Sardinia, which is a common mix-up.
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