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Hardenberg anchovy (Stolephorus insularis) — Engraulidae

Hardenberg anchovy

Stolephorus insularis
Family: Engraulidae
LC · Least Concern

The Hardenberg anchovy (Stolephorus insularis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Engraulidae that grows up to 8 cm.

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

Description

Hardenberg's anchovy is a small anchovy from the Indo-West Pacific, from India to Indonesia and the Philippines. The species grows to about 8 cm and has a slender, translucent silvery body with a shiny silver lateral band. It forms large schools in shallow coastal and lagoon water and filters small zooplankton. As a bait and food fish it is locally important. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Hardenberg anchovy?

The Hardenberg anchovy has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Hardenberg anchovy live?

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

How big does the Hardenberg anchovy get?

The Hardenberg anchovy grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Hardenberg anchovy dangerous to humans?

No, the Hardenberg anchovy is harmless to humans.

Is the Hardenberg anchovy edible?

Yes, the Hardenberg anchovy is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Eiland-ansjovis verified
English name
Hardenberg anchovy verified
Scientific name
Stolephorus insularis
Family
Engraulidae
Other names
Batavian anchovy; Gold estuarine anchovy; Hardenberg's anchovy verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Horizontal stripes 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)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
50.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. 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 Stolephorus

More from the family Engraulidae

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