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Kammal thryssa (Thryssa kammalensis) — Engraulidae

Kammal thryssa

Thryssa kammalensis
Family: Engraulidae
LC · Least Concern

The Kammal thryssa (Thryssa kammalensis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Engraulidae that grows up to 18 cm.

Length
18 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
1.0–20.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Kammal thryssa is a small anchovy from coastal and estuarine water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 18 cm and has a slender, silvery, laterally compressed body with a large mouth reaching behind the eye. It schools in shallow coastal and estuarine water and filters small zooplankton from the water. It is an important local bait and food fish. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Kammal thryssa?

The Kammal thryssa has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Large mouth extending past the eye; schooling plankton filterer

Where does the Kammal thryssa live?

The Kammal thryssa lives in brackish water and is mostly found around open water. Indo-West Pacific

How big does the Kammal thryssa get?

The Kammal thryssa grows to a maximum of about 18 cm.

Is the Kammal thryssa dangerous to humans?

No, the Kammal thryssa is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Kammal thryssa edible?

Yes, the Kammal thryssa is commonly eaten.

More photos

Kammal thryssa (Thryssa kammalensis) — Engraulidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Abu Hamas (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Kammal thryssa (Thryssa kammalensis) — Engraulidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — C. Achilles (Public domain)
Kammal thryssa (Thryssa kammalensis) — Engraulidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) kenhe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Kammal thryssa (Thryssa kammalensis) — Engraulidae — 5
Bell Museum, University of Minnesota (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — JFBM
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Kammal thryssa verified
Scientific name
Thryssa kammalensis
Family
Engraulidae
Other names
Kammal thryssa; Madura anchovy; Malabar thryssa; Thryssa verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
18.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
20.0 verified
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small zooplankton inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Schooling coastal anchovy; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Large mouth extending past the eye; schooling plankton filterer sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Net fishing sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

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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