Engraulis ringens Jenyns, 1842
Anchoveta
photo by Béarez, P.

Family:  Engraulidae (Anchovies), subfamily: Engraulinae
Max. size:  20 cm SL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 3 years
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 3 - 80 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Southeast Pacific: Aguja Point, Peru to Chiloé, Chile (distribution dependent on the coastal extent of the Peru Current).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0. Body elongate, slender, and rounded in cross section; snout long and prominent; lower branch of first gill arch with 34 to 49 gill rakers; anal fin with fewer than 22 rays, located behind dorsal fin base; body shiny blue or green (Ref. 55763). There is a silver stripe along flank in juveniles which disappears with age. The high number of gill rakers distinguishes it from all Pacific species of Anchoa.
Biology:  Adults occur mainly within 80 km of coast, forming huge schools, chiefly in surface waters. Are filter-feeders entirely dependent on the rich plankton of the Peruvian Current. In some studies, diatoms constituted as much as 98% of the diet. Large populations of guano birds and pelicans also depend on this fish (Ref. 9988). Utilized as fish meal and oil (Ref. 9988).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 18 August 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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