Coilia reynaldi Valenciennes, 1848
Reynald's grenadier anchovy
Coilia reynaldi
photo by Devarapalli, P.

Family:  Engraulidae (Anchovies), subfamily: Coiliinae
Max. size:  15 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 50 m, amphidromous
Distribution:  Indian Ocean: eastern coasts and estuaries of India, and also Irrawaddy River at Rangoon, Myanmar. All Indian references to a species with over 7 pectoral filaments must apply to Coilia reynaldi.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 80. Body tapering, belly rounded before pelvic fins, with 6 to 9 + 7 to 11 = 13 to 19 keeled scutes from just behind pectoral fin base to anus. Maxilla short, not reaching to edge of gill cover. Pectoral fin with 10 to 13 long filaments; the branched fin rays much shorter those of pelvic fin.
Biology:  Occurs in coastal and tidal stretches of rivers, but apparently no data on salinity tolerances. Its presence above Barrackpore on the Hooghly in India suggests that it can live in freshwater. Larvae feed on copepods; thereafter mainly on copepods, but also on prawns, larval decapods and other crustaceans. Breeds in the lower parts of estuaries. The time and duration of the breeding season reported vary for different estuaries in India.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 09 February 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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