Anchoa lamprotaenia Hildebrand, 1943
Big-eye anchovy
Anchoa lamprotaenia
photo by FAO

Family:  Engraulidae (Anchovies), subfamily: Engraulinae
Max. size:  12 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 0 - 50 m
Distribution:  Western Central Atlantic: southern Florida (USA), Cuba, Bahamas, Greater and Lesser Antilles, and Yucatan, Mexico to Venezuela; not in Gulf of Mexico; Trinidad south to Guianas; possibly Brazil.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-15; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 19-26. Somewhat compressed. Snout pointed, about 3/4 eye diameter; maxilla pointed, long, reaching to hind border of pre-operculum; walkeri-type gill cover canals. Anal fin origin below about midpoint of dorsal fin base. Anus advanced, nearer to pelvic fin tips than to anal fin origin. Silver stripe along flank with a dark line above, expanded over anal fin, about 3/4 eye diameter (Ref. 189). Back gray, top of head iridescent. Melanophores evenly scattered on back, forming a middorsal line, especially rearward (Ref. 7251).
Biology:  Occurs in coastal waters, forming dense schools. Not entering the mangrove-lined lagoons of the Venezuelan mainland, but is the dominant species of the Los Roques Archipelago off Venezuela and there found as much in the lagoons as outside them. Frequently caught in mixed schools (with A. mitchilli) in the Miami area. Feeds on zooplankton. Ripe females recorded off Florida in June and July. More data needed.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 24 August 2012 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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