Home · Cyprinidae · Anchovy sharpbelly
Anchovy sharpbelly (Pseudolaubuca engraulis) — Cyprinidae

Anchovy sharpbelly

Pseudolaubuca engraulis
Family: Cyprinidae

The Anchovy sharpbelly (Pseudolaubuca engraulis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 22 cm.

Length
22 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless

Description

The anchovy sharpbelly is a cyprinid (Xenocyprididae) from rivers, lakes and canals of East Asia. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a slender, strongly laterally compressed, bright-silvery body with a keeled belly and an upturned mouth. As a social, surface-oriented schooling fish it swims in open water and snaps at insects falling on the water, small plankton and small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Anchovy sharpbelly?

The Anchovy sharpbelly has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Anchovy sharpbelly live?

The Anchovy sharpbelly lives in brackish water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Anchovy sharpbelly get?

The Anchovy sharpbelly grows to a maximum of about 22 cm. On average the species is around 15 cm.

Is the Anchovy sharpbelly dangerous to humans?

No, the Anchovy sharpbelly is harmless to humans.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Ansjovis-sikkelbuik sourced
English name
Anchovy sharpbelly sourced
Scientific name
Pseudolaubuca engraulis
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
22.0 verified
Average length (cm)
14.8 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Te vangen met natuurlijk aas of kunstaas, afgestemd op de grootte en het leefgebied van de soort. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Pseudolaubuca

More from the family Cyprinidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →