Anchovies

Distribution: Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Schooling fishes, mostly of shallow coastal waters and estuaries in tropical and temperate regions. Some species enter or live in freshwater. Mouth inferior. Upper jaw produced. Jaw teeth well developed to absent. Gill rakers on lower limb of first arch 10-50 or more. Branchiostegal rays 7-19. A silvery stripe down flanks. Body translucent. Abdominal scutes present in most Old World anchovies; absent in New World anchovies, except for one pelvic scute. Luminescent organs noted in one species. Mostly filter feeding on zooplankton; a few piscivorous. About 50 cm maximum length; most species below 15 cm. Commercially important for food and fish meal; also used as bait. The name 'Engraulididae' has been proposed for this family.