Samoan anchovy
📖 Overview
A schooling species in shallow coastal waters. Used as bait in the tuna fishery in the South Pacific, although rare in bait catches in Fiji and Samoa.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
This species is distinguished by the following characters: gill rakers on first gill arch, upper series 20-24 (modally 21), lower series 27-30 (29), total 48-53 (50); gill rakers on second gill arch upper series 14-17 (15), lower series 25-30 (26), total 40-47 (41); gill rakers on third gill arch, upper series 11-13 (12), lower series 13-16 (15), total 24-29 (26); gill rakers on fourth gill arch, upper series 8-10 (8), lower series 10-13 (12), total 19-22 (20); prepelvic scutes 2-5 (4); upper jaw long, its posterior tip slightly short of or just reaching to posterior border of preopercle; predorsal scutes absent; pelvic scute no spine; posterior border of preopercle convex, rounded; parietal and occipital regions with obscure paired dark patches, without following dark lines; no black spots below eye and lower-jaw tip; body relatively elongate, its depth 17.0-20.0% of SL (mean 18.7%); anal-fn base long, its length 20.2-23.3% of SL (21.2%); caudal peduncle relatively short, its length 14.4-18.3% of SL (16.4%); posterior tip of pelvic fin reaching to the second–fifth dorsal-fin ray origin .: elongated; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Samoan anchovy is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 0 - 50 m . Tropical; 2°S - 20°S, 174°E - 171°W Central Pacific: Fiji and Samoa.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Samoan anchovy is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Detailed nutritional data for Samoan anchovy is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Samoan anchovy has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (oily fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Commerson's Anchovy · Samoan anchovy |
| 🌍CES | sardel apijská |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Nampuainokoiwashi · ナンプウアイノコイワシ |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Anchova-insular |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchovia apiensis | Jordan & Seale | 1906 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Samoan anchovy ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.