European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) fish species and information / pictures of European anchovy - Engraulis encrasicolus

European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Engraulis encrasicolus

Common Name
European anchovy

Biology
Mainly a coastal marine species, forming large schools. Tolerates salinities of 5-41 ppt and in some areas, enters lagoons, estuaries and lakes, especially during spawning. Tends to move further north and into surface waters in summer, retreating and descending in winter. Feeds on planktonic organisms. Spawns from April to November with peaks usually in the warmest months. Eggs are ellipsoidal to oval, floating in the upper 50 m and hatching in 24-65 hours. Marketed fresh, dried, smoked, canned and frozen; made into fish meal (Ref. 9987).

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Herrings (Clupeiformes)

Family

Anchovies (Engraulidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: Bergen, Norway to East London, South Africa (perhaps reaching Durban) (Ref. 10000). Also all of Mediterranean, Black and Azov seas, with stray individuals in Suez Canal and Gulf of Suez; also recorded from St. Helena (Ref. 189). Reported from Estonia (Ref. 33247).

Range

62°N - 37°S, 18°W - 42°E

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

400 m

Zone

pelagic-neritic

Environment

Marine; brackish; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 400 m (Ref. 2683)

Trophic Level

3.10999989509582 s.e. 0.45 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

20.0 cm

Common Length

13.5 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: highly commercial; bait: usually

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (25 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.21-1.2; tm=1; tmax=4)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated