Californian anchovy (Engraulis mordax) fish species and information / pictures of Californian anchovy - Engraulis mordax

Californian anchovy (Engraulis mordax) fish species information

Scientific Name
Engraulis mordax

Common Name
Californian anchovy

Biology
Usually found in coastal waters within about 30 km from shore, but as far out as 480 km, forming large, tightly packed schools. Enters bays and inlets. Feeds on euphausiids, copepods and decapod larvae, both by random filter-feeding and by 'pecking' at prey. Oviparous, epipelagic batch spawner (Ref. 6882). Spawns throughout the year, peaking once (Ref. 6882). Processed into fishmeal, used as bait for tuna, occasionally canned (Ref. 9298).

Classification

Classified By

Girard, 1854

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Herrings (Clupeiformes)

Family

Anchovies (Engraulidae)

Distribution

Region

Northeast Pacific

Distribution

Northeast Pacific: northern Vancouver Island south to Cape San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico. Two subspecies recognized: Engraulis mordax mordax from British Columbia to Baja California and Engraulis mordax nanus in Bays of California.

Range

51°N - 21°N, 131°W - 108°W

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

300 m

Zone

pelagic-neritic

Environment

Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 0 - 300 m (Ref. 265), usually ? - 219 m (Ref. 54433)

Trophic Level

2.96 s.e. 0.30 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

24.8 cm

Common Length

15.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5020 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; bait: usually

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (33 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (rm=0.36; K=0.2-0.6; tm=1-4; tmax=7; Fec=4000)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)