Anchovy

Belly rounded with 4 to 6 sharp needle-like pre-pelvic scutes. Maxilla tip pointed, projecting beyond second supra-maxilla and reaching to sub-operculum. Isthmus short, preceded by a small bony plate on urohyal between branchial membranes. Unbranched dorsal and anal fin rays only. Anal fin short. In life, a distinct blue upper edge to its lateral stripe and a dull silver or grey band on flank, the back beige.

Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 14 - 16

Occurs in inshore waters of the continental shelf. Schooling species (Ref. 75154).

A schooling species found inshore, but also inhabits deep bays under oceanic influence. Rarely enter mangrove waters (Ref. 43081). Probably feed mainly on planktonic crustaceans (e.g., copepods, Ref. 8591). Eggs are oval, without a knob at one end. Eggs occur intermittently in the lower reaches of mangrove waters (Ref. 43081). Utilized mostly for bait, but also for human consumption as dried fish or fermented sauce (Ref. 9987).

fisheries: minor commercial; bait: usually; price category: medium; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family

廣泛分布於印度-太平洋區，西起非洲東岸，東至斐濟、薩摩亞、大溪地及所羅門群島等，北至日本，南至澳洲皆產。臺灣各地皆產，以北部及澎湖海域較多。

小型食用魚，一般多曬成魚乾出售，主要漁法為焚寄網或巾著網等，週年可見，無明顯盛漁期。臺灣北部及澎湖產量較高，是當地魩鱙漁業的重要魚種之一。

體細長，略呈亞圓筒形，腹鰭前方具4-6個針狀稜棘。頭中大。吻端尖。眼大，眼徑大於吻長。口大，微斜；上頜前端突出於下頜，上頜骨末端尖突而延長，向後延伸達下鰓蓋骨。鰓耙細長而密，下枝鰓耙在23-27間。體被圓鱗，鱗小而薄，易脫落，無側線。背鰭起始於體中部，具軟條13-14；臀鰭起始於背鰭基部末端之下方，具軟條16-17；尾鰭叉型。體色銀白略透明，體側具一條銀白色之縱帶。背鰭及尾鰭淡青色，其餘各鰭半透明。

大洋性表層洄游魚種，群游性。一般群游於近岸，有時也會進入大型、較深且水質清澈的內灣。鰓耙發達，以過濾浮游生物為食。同時也是鮪、鯖等大型魚種之餌料生物。

Encrasicholina heteroloba, the shorthead anchovy, is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Engraulidae. It is found in the Western Indian Ocean.

A schooling species found inshore, but also inhabits deep bays under oceanic influence. Probably feeds mainly on planktonic crustaceans (e.g, copepods, Ref. 8591). Eggs are oval, without a knob at one end. Utilized mostly for bait, but also for human consumption as dried fish or fermented sauce (Ref. 9987).