Big-eye anchovy

📖 Overview

Occurs in coastal waters, forming dense schools. Not entering the mangrove-lined lagoons of the Venezuelan mainland, but is the dominant species of the Los Roques Archipelago off Venezuela and there found as much in the lagoons as outside them. Frequently caught in mixed schools (with A. mitchilli) in the Miami area. Feeds on zooplankton. Ripe females recorded off Florida in June and July. More data needed.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 15; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 19 - 26. Somewhat compressed. Snout pointed, about 3/4 eye diameter; maxilla pointed, long, reaching to hind border of pre-operculum; walkeri-type gill cover canals. Anal fin origin below about midpoint of dorsal fin base. Anus advanced, nearer to pelvic fin tips than to anal fin origin. Silver stripe along flank with a dark line above, expanded over anal fin, about 3/4 eye diameter . Back gray, top of head iridescent. Melanophores evenly scattered on back, forming a middorsal line, especially rearward .: elongated; Cross section: oval.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Big-eye anchovy is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Big-eye anchovy is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Spawn in school .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 0 - 50 m . Tropical; 28°N - 7°S, 90°W - 60°W Central Atlantic: southern Florida (USA), Cuba, Bahamas, Greater and Lesser Antilles, and Yucatan, Mexico to Venezuela; not in Gulf of Mexico; Trinidad south to Guianas; possibly Brazil.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 39 records indexed .

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