Japanese anchovy
📖 Overview
Occurs in large schools near the surface, mainly in coastal waters but as far out as over 1,000 km from the shore. Tends to move more northward and inshore in spring and summer. Juveniles associate with drifting seaweed . Feeds on copepods, but also on other small crustaceans, molluscan larvae, fish eggs and larvae and diatoms. Marketed fresh and salted, processed into fishmeal and oil .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 14; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 13 - 18. Differs very little from the European anchovy (see E. encrasicolus) and can be identified from that description. Of other anchovies found in the southern part of its distribution, only species of Encrasicholina and Stolephorus are of similar appearance, but all have small spine-like pre-pelvic scutes (usually 2 to 7 scutes). Thryssa have compressed bodies and a keel of scutes along belly.: elongated; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Japanese anchovy is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous ; depth range 0 - 400 m . Temperate; 8°C - 30°C ; 62°N - 18°N, 105°E - 175°E south to almost Canton/Taiwan and Gulf of Tonkin, Vietnam; rare records (seems to represent stray fishes) off the coasts of Luzon and Western Mindanao, Philippines and from Manado and Ujung Pandang, Sulawesi, Indonesia.
🌿 Ecology
copepods, but also on other small crustaceans, molluscan larvae, fish eggs and larvae and diatoms
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Cape anchovy · Japanese anchovy · Southern African anchovy |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | Japaninsardelli |
| 🇫🇷French | Anchois · Anchois de l'Afrique australe · Anchois japonais |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Katakuchiiwashi · カタクチイワシ |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Sardela japonska · Sardela kapska |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Biqueirão-do-Indo-Pacífico |
| 🌍RON | Hamsie japoneza |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Японский анчоус |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Anchoa de Africa austral · Anchoa del Cabo · Anchoita japonesa · Boquerón |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 厚殼鱙 · 姑仔 · 日本鯷 · 片口 · 苦蚵仔 · 苦蠔仔 · 鰯仔 · 鱙仔 · 黑鱙 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina japonica | Forster | 1795 | Synonym |
| Atherina japonica | Houttuyn | 1782 | Heterotypic |
| Engraulis zollingeri | Bleeker | 1849 | Synonym |
| Engraulus japonicus | Temminck & Schlegel | 1846 | Synonym |
| Stolephorus celebicus | Hardenberg | 1933 | Synonym |
| Stolephorus zollingeri | Bleeker | 1849 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 321 records indexed .
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