Animal Profiles
Fish

Anchovy

Engraulidae

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Anchovies are small schooling fishes. The northern anchovy described here lives along western North America, where its wide mouth and fine gill rakers gather tiny food from the water.

Northern anchovies (Engraulis mordax) schooling in an aquarium.

Northern anchovies (Engraulis mordax) schooling in an aquarium.

At a glance

Location
The representative is Engraulis mordax, found along the Pacific coast from British Columbia to Baja California and the Gulf of California. Coastal upwelling areas provide productive feeding grounds.
Habitat
Coast, Open ocean
Diet
Filter feeder
Food
Northern anchovies eat plankton by filtering water and by picking out larger prey.

Classification

Common name
Anchovy
Browse group
Fish
Scientific name or taxon
Engraulidae
Taxon rank
family
Order
Clupeiformes
Family
Engraulidae
Source classification
Actinopterygii

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • It forms large schools.
  • Its gill rakers strain small food items.
  • It can also pick out individual prey.

Habitat and range

The representative is Engraulis mordax, found along the Pacific coast from British Columbia to Baja California and the Gulf of California. Coastal upwelling areas provide productive feeding grounds.

Appearance and adaptations

A bluish-green back contrasts with silvery sides and belly. The mouth is large relative to the head, and closely spaced gill rakers help separate food from passing water.

Diet and behaviour

Northern anchovies eat plankton by filtering water and by picking out larger prey. Large schools help with finding food and avoiding predators. Seasonal movements can take fish farther offshore in winter.

Sources

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