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Anchovy kilka (Clupeonella engrauliformis) — Clupeidae

Anchovy kilka

Clupeonella engrauliformis
Family: Clupeidae

The Anchovy kilka (Clupeonella engrauliformis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Clupeidae that grows up to 17 cm.

Length
16.5 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0.0–78.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Anchovy kilka is a small herring relative (Clupeidae) from the brackish water of the Caspian Sea. The species grows to about 13 cm and has a slender, laterally compressed, bright-silvery body with a keeled belly and large eyes. As an open-water schooling fish it swims in enormous groups and filters small zooplankton. It is an extremely important commercial fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Anchovy kilka?

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

Where does the Anchovy kilka live?

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

How big does the Anchovy kilka get?

The Anchovy kilka grows to a maximum of about 17 cm. On average the species is around 12 cm.

Is the Anchovy kilka dangerous to humans?

No, the Anchovy kilka is harmless to humans.

Is the Anchovy kilka edible?

Yes, the Anchovy kilka is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Ansjovis-kilka sourced
English name
Anchovy kilka sourced
Scientific name
Clupeonella engrauliformis
Family
Clupeidae
Other names
Anchovy sprat; Anchovy-like tyulka verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
16.5 verified
Average length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
78.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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 Clupeonella

More from the family Clupeidae

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