Pacific anchoveta (Cetengraulis mysticetus)

Scientific name: Cetengraulis mysticetus G?nther, 1867

Pacific anchoveta (Cetengraulis mysticetus)

The Pacific anchoveta (Cetengraulis mysticetus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Engraulidae.

Biology

Occurs inshore, principally over mud flats and forming quite large schools. Apparently not making long migrations along sandy or rocky areas. Juveniles feed principally on diatoms, also silico-flagellates, dinoflagellates and small crustaceans; adults also mainly on benthic diatoms. Used as tuna baitfish. Processed into fishmeal and oil.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Cetengraulis mysticetus
Family
Engraulidae (Anchovies)
Order
Clupeiformes (Herrings)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
18.0
Common length
12.0
Depth range
25 m (82 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; pelagic-neritic; non-migratory; depth range ? - 25 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Eastern Pacific: southwestern coast of Baja California, Mexico and from the Gulf of California to northern Peru (up to the Bay of Sechura). Apparently reaching Los Angeles, USA, but these are perhaps releases from tuna boats.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: highly commercial; bait: usually
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.9-2.6; tm=1; tmax=4)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated