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Papuan anchovy (Papuengraulis micropinna) — Engraulidae

Papuan anchovy

Papuengraulis micropinna
Family: Engraulidae

The Papuan anchovy (Papuengraulis micropinna) is a brackish-water fish of the family Engraulidae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
13.0–? m
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Papuan anchovy is an anchovy (Engraulidae) from coastal, estuarine and lower river water around New Guinea in the western Pacific. The species grows to about 9 cm and has a very slender, silvery body with a shiny lengthwise stripe and a projecting snout with inferior mouth. As a social schooling fish it swims in open water and filters small plankton and larvae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Papuan anchovy?

The Papuan anchovy has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Papuan anchovy live?

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

How big does the Papuan anchovy get?

The Papuan anchovy grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Papuan anchovy dangerous to humans?

No, the Papuan anchovy is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Papoea-ansjovis sourced
English name
Papuan anchovy sourced
Scientific name
Papuengraulis micropinna
Family
Engraulidae
Other names
Little anchovy; Littlefin anchovy verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

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 verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Engraulidae

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