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Anchovies (Coilia mystus) — Engraulidae

Anchovies

Coilia mystus
Family: Engraulidae
EN · Endangered

The Anchovies (Coilia mystus) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Engraulidae that grows up to 21 cm.

Length
21 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Depth
10.0–? m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

Osbeck's grenadier anchovy is an anchovy (Engraulidae) from East Asia, occurring in the coastal waters, estuaries and rivers of China and Korea. The species reaches about 21 cm and has an elongate, silvery body that tapers to the rear into a thin tail tip, with a long anal fin. It is euryhaline and enters river mouths and the lower reaches of rivers to spawn. The diet consists of zooplankton and small crustaceans. Once an important commercial fish, the species has declined strongly through overfishing and dam construction and is assessed by the IUCN as endangered (EN).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Anchovies?

The Anchovies has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Anchovies live?

The Anchovies lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Anchovies get?

The Anchovies grows to a maximum of about 21 cm. On average the species is around 15 cm.

Is the Anchovies dangerous to humans?

No, the Anchovies is harmless to humans.

Is the Anchovies edible?

Yes, the Anchovies is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Osbecks staartansjovis sourced
English name
Anchovies verified
Scientific name
Coilia mystus
Family
Engraulidae
Other names
Osbeck's grenadier anchovy; Phoenix-tailed anchovy verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
21.0 verified
Average length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Sportvissen met kunstaas of (dood/levend) aasvis door te trollen, te werpen of drijvend te vissen in open water. 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 Coilia

More from the family Engraulidae

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