Anchovy

Snout about 3/4 eye diameter, maxilla moderate, tip pointed, reaching almost to or just beyond front margin of pre-operculum. gill rakers short and stumpy. Dorsal fin origin well behind midpoint of body; anal fin origin below first to fourth branched dorsal fin rays. Silver stripe along flank, twice eye diameter at widest, lost in fishes over 10 to 12 cm SL; curve of black dots on operculum (Ref. 189).

Spawn in school (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 26 - 30

Occurs far up rivers, but apparently reaches down to river mouths. Carnivorous, feeds on small fishes and probably crustaceans (Ref. 12225). A ripe female of 17.2 cm SL was recorded at Tucupita, Orinoco delta in Venezuela.

fisheries: subsistence fisheries