Fish ID – Species Glossary

Family Engraulidae, ANCHOVIES

Description: body relatively deep; head short; snout very short, only slightly overhanging mouth; silvery stripe narrow, often faint or absent toward front; stripe fades after death; body grayish, with few melanophores above; dorsal fin far back – the only U.S. species in which that fin begins above or only very slightly in front of anal fin; 11 to 14 (usually 12 to 13) pectoral fin rays; 23 to 31 (usually 24 to 29) anal fin rays.

Size: to 10 cm (4 in.).

Where Found: in shallow bays and estuaries; common in brackish waters, but occurs to 120 ft.

Family Engraulidae, ANCHOVIES

Description: snout length somewhat less than eye diameter; silver stripe on body narrow –width less than eye diameter or snout length throughout; back greenish; some yellowish about the head; melanophores outline all dorsal scales, especially those behind the dorsal fin; dorsal fin begins above a point well in front of anal fin, and ends above front rays of anal fin; 14 to 17 dorsal fin rays (usually 16), 15 to 18 pectoral fin rays (usually 16 to 17), and 20 to 24 anal fin rays (usually 21 to 23)

Size: to 15 cm (6 in.).