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Baelama anchovy (Thryssa baelama) — Engraulidae

Baelama anchovy

Thryssa baelama
Family: Engraulidae

The Baelama anchovy (Thryssa baelama) is a fish of the family Engraulidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The baelama anchovy is an anchovy (Engraulidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a slender, silvery body with a projecting snout and a large mouth reaching far back. It lives in schools in coastal waters and estuaries, where with its fine gill rakers it filters small zooplankton and small invertebrates from the water. It is an important prey fish and is caught locally as bait and food. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Baelama anchovy?

The Baelama anchovy is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Baelama anchovy live?

The Baelama anchovy is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Baelama anchovy get?

The Baelama anchovy grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Baelama anchovy dangerous to humans?

No, the Baelama anchovy is harmless to humans.

Is the Baelama anchovy edible?

Yes, the Baelama anchovy is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Baelama-ansjovis sourced
English name
Baelama anchovy sourced
Scientific name
Thryssa baelama
Family
Engraulidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Substrate
Open water sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

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 Thryssa

More from the family Engraulidae

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