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Elongate anchovy (Anchoviella elongata) — Engraulidae

Elongate anchovy

Anchoviella elongata
Family: Engraulidae
LC · Least Concern

The Elongate anchovy (Anchoviella elongata) is a brackish-water fish of the family Engraulidae that grows up to 16 cm.

Length
15.9 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The elongate anchovy is a small anchovy from the western Atlantic and adjacent fresh and brackish water of South America. The species grows to about 16 cm and has a very slender, silvery body with a shiny lateral stripe. It schools in large numbers in coastal, estuarine and river-mouth water and filters small zooplankton from the water. It is an important forage fish for larger predators. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Elongate anchovy?

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

Where does the Elongate anchovy live?

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

How big does the Elongate anchovy get?

The Elongate anchovy grows to a maximum of about 16 cm. On average the species is around 9 cm.

Is the Elongate anchovy dangerous to humans?

No, the Elongate anchovy is harmless to humans.

Is the Elongate anchovy edible?

The Elongate anchovy is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Slanke ansjovis verified
English name
Elongate anchovy verified
Scientific name
Anchoviella elongata
Family
Engraulidae
Other names
Elongate anchovy verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
15.9 verified
Average length (cm)
9.0 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
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
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
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Netvisserij sourced
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 Anchoviella

More from the family Engraulidae

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