The South American pilchard (Sardinops sagax) is a sardine of the Family Clupeidae, the only member of the genus Sardinops. It is found in the Indo-Pacific oceans. Its length is up to 40 cm. It has other names, some of which more appropriately refer to subspecies, including blue pilchard, Australian pilchard (S. neopilchardus), blue-bait, Californian pilchard (S. caeruleus), Chilean sardine (S. sagax), Japanese pilchard (S. melanostictus), Pacific sardine, and Southern African pilchard (S. ocellatus).