Home · Engraulidae · Scofield's anchovy
Scofield's anchovy (Anchoa scofieldi) — Engraulidae

Scofield's anchovy

Anchoa scofieldi
Family: Engraulidae
LC · Least Concern

The Scofield's anchovy (Anchoa scofieldi) is a saltwater fish of the family Engraulidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
6.2 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–50.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Eastern Pacific
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Scofield's anchovy?

Get the app

Description

Scofield's anchovy is a small anchovy from the eastern Pacific, along the coast of Peru and Chile. The species grows to only about 6 cm and has a slender, translucent silvery body with a shiny lateral band. It forms schools in productive, food-rich coastal water and filters small zooplankton. As a bait fish it provides food for larger predatory fish and seabirds. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Scofield's anchovy?

The Scofield's anchovy has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern. Small transparent shoaling fish of nutrient-rich coastal water

Where does the Scofield's anchovy live?

The Scofield's anchovy lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water. Eastern Pacific

How big does the Scofield's anchovy get?

The Scofield's anchovy grows to a maximum of about 6 cm.

Is the Scofield's anchovy dangerous to humans?

No, the Scofield's anchovy 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 Scofield's anchovy edible?

Yes, the Scofield's anchovy is commonly eaten.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Scofield's anchovy?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Scofield's anchovy is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Scofield's anchovy verified
Scientific name
Anchoa scofieldi
Family
Engraulidae
Other names
Yellow anchovy verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.2 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
50.0 verified
Natural range
Eastern 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
Coastal schooling anchovy; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Small transparent shoaling fish of nutrient-rich coastal water sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
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 Anchoa

More from the family Engraulidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Scofield's anchovy?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Scofield's anchovy is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Scofield's anchovy? Get the app