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Hamilton's anchovy (Thryssa hamiltonii) — Engraulidae

Hamilton's anchovy

Thryssa hamiltonii
Family: Engraulidae
LC · Least Concern

The Hamilton's anchovy (Thryssa hamiltonii) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Engraulidae that grows up to 27 cm.

Length
27 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Depth
10.0–13.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific; coastal waters and estuaries.
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

Hamilton's thryssa is an anchovy (Engraulidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species has a slender, laterally compressed, silvery body with a shiny side band and a fairly large, rearward-extended upper jaw. It lives inshore, forms schools and enters estuaries. It feeds by filtering zooplankton and small invertebrates. It is an important prey and food fish. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Hamilton's anchovy?

The Hamilton's anchovy has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern. Upper jaw extended to the rear and a shiny lateral band; schooling anchovy of coasts and estuaries.

Where does the Hamilton's anchovy live?

The Hamilton's anchovy lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around open water. Indo-West Pacific; coastal waters and estuaries.

How big does the Hamilton's anchovy get?

The Hamilton's anchovy grows to a maximum of about 27 cm.

Is the Hamilton's anchovy dangerous to humans?

No, the Hamilton's anchovy is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Hamilton's anchovy edible?

Yes, the Hamilton's anchovy is commonly eaten.

More photos

Hamilton's anchovy (Thryssa hamiltonii) — Engraulidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — BEDO (Thailand) (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Hamilton's anchovy (Thryssa hamiltonii) — Engraulidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — C. Achilles (Public domain)
Hamilton's anchovy (Thryssa hamiltonii) — Engraulidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — BEDO (Thailand) (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Hamilton's anchovy (Thryssa hamiltonii) — Engraulidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) biobank-lantauhk, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
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All data

Identification

English name
Hamilton's anchovy verified
Scientific name
Thryssa hamiltonii
Family
Engraulidae
Other names
Hamilton's anchovy; Hamilton's thryssa; Northern anchovy; Thryssa verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
27.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Horizontal stripes inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
13.0 verified
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific; coastal waters and estuaries. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Zooplankton and small invertebrates, filter-feeding sourced
Social behaviour
Large groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
levensduur_max_jaar
4.0 verified
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Upper jaw extended to the rear and a shiny lateral band; schooling anchovy of coasts and estuaries. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Angling with lures or (dead/live) baitfish by trolling, casting or drift fishing in open water. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Thryssa

More from the family Engraulidae

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