Common Name
Bay Anchovy
Year Described
Valenciennes, 1848
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 14-16
Anal Fin: 23-31
Pectoral Fin: 11-12
Gill Rakers: 15-19 upper, 20-26 lower
Vertebrae: 38-44
Lateral Line Scales: 38-41
Body elongate and laterally compressed. Body depth 16-27% TL. Snout conical and half eye diameter in length. Mouth very large and inferior. Maxilla tip extends well over preoperculum (to edge). Teeth small. Suborbital bone equal in length to eye diameter. Pseudobranch shorter than eye diameter (does not reach onto operculum). Dorsal fin origin a well past midpoint of body with a concave rear margin. Pectoral fin long, low and almost reaches or reaches pelvic fin base. Pelvic fin a bit closer to anal fin base than pectoral fin base. Pelvic fin with seven rays. Anal fin origin under dorsal fin origin. Caudal fin forked. Anus closer to pelvic fin base than anal fin origin. Scales cycloid and deciduous. Lateral line absent.
Color
Body translucent with a narrow (about half eye diameter) silvery stripe that does not narrow significantly. Fins clear.
Size
Maximum size to 100mm TL.
Habitat
A coastal species found in both brackish and marine waters. Can tolerate fairly low salinity to almost fresh water. Schooling.
Range
Maine to Florida and the entire Gulf of Mexico to the Yucatan.
References
Hildebrand, S.F. 1964. Engraulidae and Clupeidae (pp. 152-454). In: Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Mem. Sears Fnd. Mar. Res. 1 (Vol. 3): 1-630.
McEachran, J.D. & J.D. Fechhelm. 1998. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. Volume 1: Myxiniformes to Gasterosteiformes. University of Texas Press, Austin. i-viii + 1-1112.