Adults form dense schools, often in shallow waters close to shore. They are able to tolerate a wide range of salinities, from hypersaline to almost fresh. Adults feed on copepods when young, then on gastropods, foraminifers and an occasional ostracods and annelid. Breeding was recorded in April through to July at Beaufort, North Carolina. Breeding takes place in harbors, estuaries and sounds. Eggs are elliptical, transparent, without oil globule, the yolk appearing `cellular' . Great variation. Principal parasites are nematodes and cestodes (Scolex polymorphus and Rhynchobothrium sp.) and trematodes (Distomum appendiculatum and Distomum sp). Marketed as food .
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 17; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 20 - 24. Snout pointed, about 3/4 eye diameter; maxilla long, tips pointed, reaching beyond hind border of pre-operculum, almost to gill opening; gill cover canals of panamensis-type. Anal fin origin below about midpoint of dorsal fin base. Anus nearer to anal fin origin than to pelvic fin tips. Silver stripe along flank (a dark line above) of uniform width, narrowed immediately behind band . Back greenish, some yellowish on head. Melanophores outline all dorsal scales .: elongated; Cross section: oval.
Behavioural data for Broad-striped anchovy is currently being reviewed.
Spawn in school .
Marine; freshwater; brackish; pelagic-neritic; anadromous ; depth range 1 - 70 m . Subtropical; 44°N - 36°S, 98°W - 32°W north to Maine or even Nova Scotia (Canada), south to Fort Pierce, Florida (but not Florida Keys) and at least northern Gulf of Mexico; also from Gulf of Venezuela south to Uruguay.
copepods when young, then on gastropods, foraminifers and an occasional ostracods and annelid
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchoa ginsburgi | Hildebrand | 1943 | Synonym |
| Anchovia brownii | Gmelin | 1789 | Synonym |
| Anchoviella epsetus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Atherina brownii | Gmelin | 1789 | Synonym |
| Atherina menidia | Linnaeus | 1766 | Heterotypic |
| Esox hepsetus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Esox spec | Linnæus | 1758 | Homotypic |
| Stolephorus perthecata | Goode & Bean | 1882 | Synonym |
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 163 records indexed .
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