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ENGR

1983
FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

FISHING AREA 51
(W. Indian Ocean)

ENGRAULIDAE

Anchovies

Small, mostly silvery fishes, usually between 7 to 15 cm length, generally with fusiform, subcylindrical
bodies but sometimes quite strongly compressed (body tapering to a point in the grenadier anchovies Coilia); scutes
usually present along belly (except in Engraulis). Snout usually pig-like and projecting, lower jaw characteristi-
cally "underslung"; hind tip of upper jaw (maxilla) extending far backward, sometimes projecting beyond gill cover;
jaw teeth small; pseudobranch present gill-like structure on inner face of opercle). No spiny rays in fins; pectoral
fins set low on body; pelvic fins usually about half-way between pectoral fin bases and anal fin origin; anal fin
short or long; caudal fin normally forked, but small and rounded in the grenadier anchovies (Coilia). Scales
cycloid (smooth to touch); no lateral line.
Colour: back blue/green or translucent grey, sides silver or with a silver band; darker markings include a
dark venulose area behind gill cover and duskiness on fins (especially outer margins).

Most anchovies are marine, but some can tolerate low salinities or even freshwater. Although usually small,
many are shoaling species of great importance to fisheries; some are used for food, others for bait. The reported
catch for anchovies from the area in 1980 Loiaiied about 39 1066 tons.

unbranched
soft rays

branched
soft rays
axillary
scale
snout
prominent

lower jaw
"underslung"
2nd
branched
supramaxilla
soft rays
prepelvic postpelvic
maxilla unbranched
often long soft rays
scutes often present
 -2-

FAO Sheets ENGRAULIDAE

Fishing Area 51

SIMILAR FAMILIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Clupeidae: maxilla short, lower jaw deep

and in most cases mouth terminal.

Atherinidae: mouth terminal, upper jaw

short; two dorsal fins and no scutes along belly.

maxilla
short
Clupeidae (Sardinella)
Atherinidae

KEY TO GENERA OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

1a. Body normal, not tapering to a point, caudal

fin forked (Figs. 1,2,3); anal fin not joined to
caudal fin

2a. No scutes before or behind pelvic fin

base (except a single pelvic scute); maxilla
m a x i l l a t i p b l u n t ; a n a l f i n o r i g i n we l l tip blunt no scutes Engraulis Fig.1
behind last dorsal fin ray (Fig. 1) ......... Engraulis
2b. Scutes present along belly, needle-like or
forming a keel; maxilla tip pointed in all
species except Stolephorus punctifer;
anal fin origins wider last dorsal fin rays
or not far behind dorsal fin base, except
in S. punctifer
3a. Scutes needle-like, present only short
before pelvic fin base; anal fin maxilla tip scutes
short, less than 25 fin rays; small, not pointed only here Stolephorus Fig.2
slender fishes (usually 4 to 8 cm) scute
with a silvery band on flanks (Fig.
2) ........................................... Stolephorus dark area
3b. Scutes present before and behind
pelvic fin base, forming a keel; anal
fin longer, with more than 25 fin
rays; larger, more compressed
fishes (usually 10 to 14 cm), with a
dark humeral area behind gill
opening (Fig. 3).................…......... Thryssa long
1b. Body tapering to a point, caudal fin small, maxilla
tip pointed
not forked; 6 or 7 upper pectoral rays scutes Thryssa Fig. 3
filamentous; anal fin very long and joined to
caudal fin (Fig. 4) ......................................... Coilia
scutes

Coilia
 -3-
FAO Sheets ENGRAULIDAE
Fishing Area 51
LIST OF SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Code numbers are given for those species for which Identification Sheets are included

Coilia dusslimieri Valenciennes, 1848 ENGR Coil 2

Coilia grayii Richardson, 1845
Coilia neglecta Whitehead, 1968 ENGR Coil 3

Enqraulis japonicus Schlegel, 1846 ENGR Engr 4

Stolephorus commersonii Lacepède, 1803 ENGR Stol 6

Stolephorus devisi Whitley, 1940) ENGR Stol 7
Stolephorus heterolobus (Rüppell, 18-57) ENGR Stol 1
Stolephorus holodon Boulenger, 1900
Stolephorus indicus (van Hasselt, 1823) ENGR Stol 5
Stolephorus insularis Hardenberg, 1933
Stolephorus punctifer (Fowler, 1938) ENGR Stol 2
Stolephorus waitei Jordan & Seale, ENGR Stol 8
Thryssa baelama (Forsskål, 1775) ENGR Thrys 6
Thryssa dayi Wongratana, 1983
Thryssa dussumieri (Valenciennes, 1848) ENGR Thrys 7
Thryssa hamiltonii (Gray, 1855) ENGR Thrys 4
Thryssa malabarica (Bloch, 1795) ENGR Thrys 5
Thryssa mystax (Schneider, 1801) ENGR Thrys 1
Thryssa polybranchialis Wongratana, 1983
Thryssa urava (Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822)
Thryssa setirostris (Broussonet, 1782) ENGR Thrys 3
Thryssa vitrirostris (Gilchrist & Thompson, 19U8) ENGR Thrys 2
Thryssa whiteheadi Wongratana, 1983

Prepared by P.J.P. Whitehead, Department of Zoology, British Museum (Natural History), London SW75BD and
T. Wongratana, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

Main species illustrations prepared by T. Wongratana

* A complete taxonomic revision of all Indo-Pacific clupeoid fishes (excluding Chirocentridae and genera
confined to temperate waters) has been made by T. Wongratana (Ph.D. thesis, University of London, January
1980). This is the most up-to-date study and supercedes the synopsis by Whitehead, P.J.P., 1973. J.mar.biol.
Ass.India, 14(1):160-256. The diagnoses of 24 new clupeoid species can be found in Wongratana, T., 1983.
Japan J.Ichthyol., 29(4):385-407
 ENGR Coil 2

1983

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

FAMILY: ENGRAULIDAE FISHING AREA 51

(W. Indian Ocean)

Coilia dussumieri Valenciennes, 1848

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None

VERNACULAR NAMES:

FAO : En - Gold-spotted grenadier anchovy

Fr - Alice taches d'or
Sp - Anchoa granadera dorada

NATIONAL

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS :

Body elongate, tapering evenly to the very slender tail (unless mutilated and new caudal fin regrown); belly a
little rounded, with 5 or 6 sharp soutes before pelvic fin base and 7 to 9 post-pelvic scutes. Maxilla tip pointed,
reaching to or just beyond gill opening. Dorsal fin with a small spine in front; upper 6 pectoral fin rays
filamentous; anal fin very long and joined to caudal fin.
Colour: back light brown, flanks silvery, with three rows of orange/gold spots (silver in preserved material).

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Coilia neglecta and C. grayii: no series of spots on flanks; also, 7 pectoral fin filaments and 22 to 29 scutes
behind pelvic fin base in C. rayii (6 filamentous pectoral fin rays and 7 to 9 post-pelvic soutes in C. dussumieri).

All other species of anchovy: body of normal shape, not tapering to slender tail, caudal fin forked.
SIZE:

Maximum: 20 cm; common to 15 cm.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:

Coasts of India and Sri Lanka; elsewhere,

Bay of Bengal and eastward to Southeast Asia.

Inhabits coastal waters and estuaries.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Caught throughout its range; common in

bag net catches around Bombay.

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this

species.
Caught with seines, bag nets and trawls in
shallow waters.
Marketed fresh and dried salted.
 ENGR Coil 3

1983

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

FAMILY: ENGRAULIDAE FISHING AREA 51

(W. Indian Ocean)

Coilia neglecta Whitehead, 1968

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None

VERNACULAR NAMES:
FAO : En - Neglected grenadier anchovy
Fr - Alice franche
Sp - Anchoa granadera plebeya

NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:
Body elongate, tapering evenly to the very slender tail (unless mutilated and new caudal fin regrown); belly a
little rounded, with 5 or 6 sharp scutes before pelvic fin base and 7 to 9 post-pelvic scutes. Maxilla tip pointed,
reaching to or just beyond gill opening. Dorsal fin with a small spine in front; upper 6 pectoral fin rays
filamentous; anal fin very long and joined to caudal fin.

Colour: back light brown, flanks silvery, without orange/gold spots.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Coilia dussumieri : 3 series of orange/gold

spots on flanks silver in preserved material).

Coilia grayii: 7 pectoral filaments and 22 to

29 scutes behind pelvic fin base (6 pectoral filaments
and 7 to 9 post-pelvic scutes in C. neglecta).

Coilia dussumieri
spots
 All other species of anchovy: body of normal
shape, not tapering to slender tail, caudal fin forked.

SIZE:

Maximum: 20 cm; common to 15 cm.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:

Coasts of India and Sri Lanka; elsewhere, Bay of

Bengal and eastward to Southeast Asia.

Inhabits coastal waters and estuaries.

PRESENT FISHING GRINDS:

Caught throughout its range, but no special

fishery.

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this

species.

Caught with seines and trawls in shallow waters.

Marketed fresh and dried salted.

 ENGR Engr 4

1983

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

FAMILY : ENGRAULIDAE FISHING AREA 51

(W. Indian Ocean)

Engraulis japonicus Schlegel, 1846

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Engraulis capensis Gilchrist, 1913

VERNACULAR NAMES:

FAO : En - Japanese anchovy

Fr - Anchois japonais
Sp - Anchoita japonesa
NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body slender, subcylindrical in cross-section; belly rounded, without needle-like scutes. Upper jaw
relatively short, maxilla tip blunt and reaching only to front margin of pre-opercle. Pelvic fin origins only slightly
in front of dorsal fin origin; anal fin origin well behind dorsal fin base.

Colour: back blue/green, flanks with a thin dark line and a silver stripe below.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Stolephorus species: belly with at least 1, but usually 3 to 7, sharp, needle-like scutes before pelvic fin base;
also, maxilla tip reaching beyond front margin of pre-opercle and usually pointed in all, except S. punctifer. Also,
anal fin origin below dorsal fin base in S. commersoni, S. indicus and S. waitei.

maxilla tip pointed

scutes Stolephorus commersonii

no scutes E. japonicus
maxilla tip blunt
 Other species of anchovy: body deeper, com-
pressed, belly with scutes before and behind pelvic fins.

SIZE:

Maximum: 12 cm; common to 10 cm.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:

South African coasts, Mauritius, Seychelles and

East African coasts from the Equator to entrance to
Gulf of Aden (during upwelling period in S.W. monsoon,
June to August); elsewhere, eastward to Australia,
New Zealand and northward to Japan.
Pelagic in coastal waters, but down to about 400
m (at least in other areas).

Feeds on planktonic organisms. Chiefly copepods

and other small crustaceans.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Caught throughout its range, but no special

fishery in this area; of importance in South African
waters immediately adjacent to Fishing Area 51 (i.e.
Fishing Area 47).

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this
species.

Caught with seines and trawls.

Marketed fresh and dried salted.

 ENGR Stol 1

1983

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

FAMILY: ENGRAULIDAE FISHING AREA 51

(W. Indian Ocean)

Stolephorus heterolobus (Rüppell, 1837)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Anchoviella heterolobus: Fowler, 1941

VERNACULAR NAMES:
FAO : En - Shorthead anchovy
Fr - Anchois doua nier
Sp – Boquerón aduanero
NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body slender, subcylindrical in cross-section; belly rounded, with 5 to 6 small, needle-like scutes between
pectoral and pelvic fin bases. Maxilla tip pointed, reaching onto pre-opercle; isthmus (between gill openings on
underside of head) not reaching to hind border of gill membrane leaving exposed a small (white or silver) diamond-
shaped bony urohyal plate easily visible without lens). Dorsal and anal fins with 2 unbranched fin rays; anal fin
origin below last dorsal fin rays or just behind.

Colour: light transparent fleshy brown, with a silver stripe down flanks.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Stolephorus devisi: 3 unbranched dorsal and anal fin rays (only 2 in S. heterolobus).

Stolephorus punctifer: maxilla shorter, its tip bluntly rounded.

maxilla tip
maxilla tip rounded scutes
scutes
pointed
S. heterolobus
 Other Stolephorus species: body more com-
pressed; isthmus tapering evenly forward to hind border hind border
of gill membrane. of
gill membrane
Engraulis japonicus: no needle-like scutes before
pelvic fin base; maxilla tip bluntly rounded.
urohyal
Thryssa species: body much deeper, cornpressed; plate
a dark pigmented area behind gill opening; belly with a
keel of scutes. isthmus

SIZE:

Maximum: 8 cm; common to 7 cm.

S. heteroiobus S. indicus, etc.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR: head viewed from below

Probably throughout the area, but firm records

needed for the "Gulf", South Africa and Mauritius;
elsewhere, eastward to Papua New Guinea and
northern coasts of Australia.
Pelagic in coastal waters; one of the commonest
species of Stolephorus.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Caught throughout its range, but no special maxilla tip

fishery. rounded no scutes
Engraulis japonicus

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this

species.

Caught with seines and stake nets.

Marketed fresh or dried salted.

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