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Pacific sabretooth anchovy (Lycengraulis poeyi) — Engraulidae

Pacific sabretooth anchovy

Lycengraulis poeyi
Family: Engraulidae
LC · Least Concern

The Pacific sabretooth anchovy (Lycengraulis poeyi) is a brackish-water fish of the family Engraulidae that grows up to 21 cm.

Length
20.5 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0.0–50.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

Poey's sabretooth anchovy is an anchovy (Engraulidae) from the eastern Pacific. Unlike most anchovies it has conspicuous, sabre-like canine teeth in the jaws. It occurs in coastal waters and enters brackish and sometimes fresh water. It forms schools and is, unusually for an anchovy, partly fish-eating, alongside zooplankton. It is a prey fish for larger fishes. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Pacific sabretooth anchovy?

The Pacific sabretooth anchovy has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Pacific sabretooth anchovy live?

The Pacific sabretooth anchovy lives in brackish water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Pacific sabretooth anchovy get?

The Pacific sabretooth anchovy grows to a maximum of about 21 cm.

Is the Pacific sabretooth anchovy dangerous to humans?

No, the Pacific sabretooth anchovy is harmless to humans.

Is the Pacific sabretooth anchovy edible?

The Pacific sabretooth anchovy is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Poeys sabeltand-ansjovis sourced
English name
Pacific sabretooth anchovy verified
Scientific name
Lycengraulis poeyi
Family
Engraulidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain 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
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
50.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Sportvissen met kunstaas of (dood/levend) aasvis door te trollen, te werpen of drijvend te vissen in open water. 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 Lycengraulis

More from the family Engraulidae

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