Australian anchovy
📖 Overview
Found mostly inshore: chiefly in bays, inlets and estuaries, sometimes in low salinities. Older individuals tend to move out to sea in winter and back in the spring. Forms compact schools much preyed upon by larger fishes, common dolphins and birds. Feeds on plankton. Spawns in inlets, bays and also estuaries, probably throughout the year but mainly in late spring to early autumn and especially about November to February. The eggs are ellipsoidal. Utilized as fish paste.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 18; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 17 - 19; Vertebrae: 40 - 48. Hardly differs from the European anchovy (E. encrasicolus) and can be identified from that description. For most of its range it is the only anchovy present, but in the extreme north it may overlap with species of Encrasicholina or Stolephorus, which have small needle-like scutes before the pelvic fins; species of Thryssa have compressed bodies and a keel of scutes along the belly.: elongated; Cross section: circular.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Australian anchovy is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Australian anchovy is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Spawns in inlets, bays and estuaries.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; pelagic-neritic; depth range 31 - 70 m . Subtropical; 20°S - 47°S, 109°E - 177°W south to southern Tasmania; entire southern coast of Australia, except for Great Australian Bight, and north to Shark Bay, Western Australia), including Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island; and New Zealand (most of the North Island and all but the southeast coast of the South Island).
🌿 Ecology
plankton
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atherina australis | White | 1790 | Synonym |
| Engraulis antarcticus | Castelnau | 1872 | Synonym |
| Engraulis antipodum | Günther | 1868 | Synonym |
| Engraulis australis antipodum | Günther | 1868 | Synonym |
| Engraulis australis australis | - | - | Synonym |
| Engraulis encrasicholus antipodum | Günther | 1868 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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