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Anchovy (Anchovia clupeoides) — Engraulidae

Anchovy

Anchovia clupeoides
Family: Engraulidae
LC · Least Concern

The Anchovy (Anchovia clupeoides) is a brackish-water fish of the family Engraulidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0.0–50.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

Anchovia clupeoides, the Zabaleta anchovy, is an anchovy of the family Engraulidae from coastal waters of northern and eastern South America. The species has a silvery, streamlined body with a broad head and reaches about 30 cm, large for an anchovy. It forms quite large schools in shallow coastal water, estuaries, mangroves and lagoons and penetrates into almost fresh water. It is a plankton feeder that filters plankton from the water with its gill rakers. The species is marketed locally, although its commercial importance is limited. Little information is available on its reproduction.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Anchovy?

The Anchovy has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Anchovy live?

The Anchovy lives in brackish water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Anchovy get?

The Anchovy grows to a maximum of about 30 cm. On average the species is around 17 cm.

Is the Anchovy dangerous to humans?

No, the Anchovy is harmless to humans.

Is the Anchovy edible?

The Anchovy is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zabaleta-ansjovis sourced
English name
Anchovy verified
Scientific name
Anchovia clupeoides
Family
Engraulidae
Other names
Broadhead anchovy; Grubber broadhead; Zabaleta Anchovy; Zabaleta anchovy verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
30.0 verified
Average length (cm)
17.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
50.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Anchovia

More from the family Engraulidae

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