Pacific Sabretooth Anchovy

Snout about 2/3 eye diameter; maxilla moderate, tip somewhat bluntly rounded, reaching almost to sub-operculum, teeth becoming larger after first third of jaw. Lower gill rakers fairly short, none rudimentary. Dorsal fin origin behind midpoint of body; anal fin origin under anterior third of dorsal fin base. Silver stripe lost in larger fishes; a curve of black dots on operculum .

Nearly ripe females occurred in the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica in June, August and September, and juveniles of 3.3 to 4.5 cm in January and October.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 21 - 24

Occurs inshore but entering brackish if not fresh water (thus probably similar to L. grossidens). Feeds on fishes (including other anchovies), perhaps also crustaceans. Nearly ripe females occurred in the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica in June, August and September, and juveniles of 3.3-4.5 cm in January and October. TL = 1.257 SL.

fisheries: subsistence fisheries