Common Hairfin Anchovy

Belly with 18 to 20 (rarely 17 or 21) + 7 (sometimes 8) = 25 to 27 keeled scutes from isthmus to anus. Lower gill rakers with the serrae uneven, with slight or sometimes distinct clumps of larger serrae. Pectoral filament moderate, reaching back to base of 9th to 21st anal fin ray.

Amphidromous. Refers to fishes that regularly migrate between freshwater and the sea (in both directions), but not for the purpose of breeding, as in anadromous and catadromous species. Sub-division of diadromous. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.Characteristic elements in amphidromy are: reproduction in fresh water, passage to sea by newly hatched larvae, a period of feeding and growing at sea usually a few months long, return to fresh water of well-grown juveniles, a further period of feeding and growing in fresh water, followed by reproduction there (Ref. 82692).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 46 - 56

Occurs in inshore waters of the continental shelf (Ref. 75154). Presumably schooling and mostly coastal, but also entering estuaries and penetrating at least 20 km upstream. Feeds on fish, benthic organisms and zooplankton (Ref. 189).

Presumably schooling and occurring mostly in coastal waters, but also entering estuaries (Ref. 11230) (e.g. the Hooghly and Godavari in India) and penetrating at least 20 km up the Godavari, tolerating salinities as low as 8.7 ppt. Feeds on prawn, copepods, crustacean larvae, mollusks and fishes. Fairly common (Ref. 189).

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