ENGRAULIDAE Stolephorus indicus, 6.3 cm SL (photo by Seishi Kimura) Stolephorus indicus (van Hasselt, 1823) Indian Anchovy D 15-17; A 19-21; P1 15-17; P2 7; LGR 20-28. Body slender, almost round in cross-section; abdomen rounded with 3-5 small needle-like prepelvic scutes, but no postpelvic scutes; pelvic scute without spine; no predorsal spine-like scute; posterior tip of maxilla pointed, extending to or slightly beyond anterior border of preopercle; posterior border of preopercle convex and rounded; branches of preopercular canal extending onto opercle; isthmus muscle tapering and reaching to gill membrane; pelvic fins inserting well before vertical through dorsal fin origin; anal fin short, its origin situated at vertical through middle of dorsal fin base; caudal fin large and forked. Scales cycloid; longitudinal scale rows about 40. Color: body translucent, yellowish dorsally, with a broad silver stripe down entire flank. Size: commonly to 12 cm, maximum 15 cm SL. Distribution: widely distributed in Indo- Pacific from Red Sea and East African coasts to Samoa and Tahiti. Remarks: schooling fish found in coastal waters, often entering estuaries. Minor impor- Stolephorus dubiosus, 5.0 cm SL (photo by Seishi Kimura) Stolephorus indicus, 6.3 cm SL (photo by Seishi Kimura) Stolephorus insularis, 9.8 cm SL (photo by Seishi Kimura) tance as food fish caught with purse seines, lift nets, and set nets. Fragile and unsuitable as a tuna baitfish.(Tetsuo Yoshino)