ENGRAULIDAE


Stolephorus andhraensis, 4.9 cm SL
(photo by Seishi Kimura)


Stolephorus andhraensis
Babu Rao, 1966
Andhra Anchovy

D 13-14; A 19-20; LGR 20-21.

Body slender, somewhat compressed; abdomen with 6-7 (usually 6) small needlelike prepelvic scutes, but no postpelvic scutes; pelvic scute without spine; no predorsal spine-like scute; pelvic scute without spine. Posterior tip of maxilla pointed, extending to or beyond posterior border of preopercle; posterior border of preopercle concave. Isthmus muscle reaching to and beyond gill membrane. Anal fin short, its origin situated below middle of dorsal fin base; caudal fin large and forked. Scales cycloid; longitudinal scale rows about 37-39. Color: body semi-translucent, with a broad silver stripe midlaterally; caudal fin dusky. Size: maximum ca. 5 cm SL. Distribution: eastern coast of India, Andaman Sea coast of Thailand, Singapore, Gulf of Papua, and northern and northeastern Australia. Remarks: schooling fish found in coastal waters.(Seishi Kimura)