Hardenberg's anchovy

📖 Overview

Hardenberg's anchovy (Stolephorus bengalensis), first described by Dutt & Babu Rao, 1959 is a small fish in the family Engraulidae (order Clupeiformes). Adults typically reach 5.90 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. It occurs in Tropical waters. It is broadly omnivorous, taking invertebrates, plant matter, and detritus. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Least Concern.The species is important as a food fish and considered a sustainable seafood option under current management. As a member of the Engraulidae, it shares life-history and morphological traits with its relatives in the group.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

This species is distinguished by the following characters: gill rakers on upper limb of 1st gill arch, 16-19 (modally 18), on lower limb 23-27 (25), total 40-45 (44); gill rakers on upper limb of 2nd gill arch 11-15 (13), on lower limb 21-25 (23), total 33-39 (36); gill rakers on upper limb of 3rd gill arch 10-12 (11), on lower limb 13-15 (13), total 23-27; gill rakers on upper limb of 4th gill arch 7-9 (8), on lower limb 10-12 (11), total 17-21 (19); prepelvic scutes 5-7 (6); total vertebrae 40-41 (40); long maxilla, its posterior tip just reaching or slightly short of posterior margin of opercle; with predorsal scutes; pelvic scute no spine; body scales are deciduous; posterior border of preopercle is concave, indented; paired dark patch on parietal area with little following pigmentation; distinct double pigment lines present along dorsum posterior to dorsal fin; no black spots below eye and on lower-jaw tip; anal-fin base long, 19.0-21.3% (20.2%) of SL; maximum orbit diameter 7.3-8.6% (8.1%) of SL; third dorsal-fin ray is long, 18.5-19.9% (19.0%) of SL; pelvic fin is rather long, 9.4-11.0% (10.2%) of SL, its posterior tip not reaching to vertical through dorsal-fin origin when depressed in specimens greater than 5.0 cm SL; distance between posterior ends of supramaxilla and maxilla 5.3-6.6% (5.8%) of SL .Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Hardenberg's anchovy is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; pelagic-neritic. Tropical Indian Ocean: from Pakistan to the Bay of Bengal.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

⚡ Nutrition

Detailed nutritional data for Hardenberg's anchovy is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Hardenberg's 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

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

👥 Community & Contribute