Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Clupeiformes (Herrings) >
Engraulidae (Anchovies) > Engraulinae
Etymology: Stolephorus: Greek, stole, -es = garment + Greek, pherein = to carry (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous; depth range 20 - 50 m (Ref. 28016). Tropical, preferred ?; 30°N - 37°S, 23°E - 144°W (Ref. 189)
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and South Africa, including the Persian Gulf, Madagascar and Mauritius eastward to Hong Kong, the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819), northern and eastern coasts of Australia and further east to Samoa and Tahiti.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 9.0, range 12 - ? cm
Max length : 15.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 30573); common length : 12.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 30573)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 0;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 15-17;
Anal
spines: 0;
Anal
soft rays: 18 - 21. Belly with 2 to 6 small needle-like pre-pelvic scutes. Maxilla tip pointed, reaching to or only just beyond front border of pre-operculum; hind border of pre-operculum convex, rounded. Isthmus muscle tapering evenly forward to hind border of branchial membrane. Body light transparent fleshy brown, with silver stripe down flank; no dark pigment lines on back between head and dorsal fin.
A schooling species occurring in coastal waters and which appears to enter at least the estuarine parts of rivers and to tolerate brackish water. Cpastal pelagic (Ref. 68964). Feeds most likely on zooplankton, but more data needed. In Manila Bay, the Philippines, it migrates out into deeper and more saline water to spawn, returning inshore immediately thereafter. Processed into nuoc-man (fish pickle) in Indo-China (Ref. 4929). Used as bait in the tuna fishery in the South Pacific, although said to be fragile. Also Ref. 58652.
In Manila Bay, migrates out into deeper and more saline water to breed (at about 9 cm SL and above), returning immediately thereafter.
Whitehead, P.J.P., G.J. Nelson and T. Wongratana, 1988. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 7. Clupeoid fishes of the world (Suborder Clupeoidei). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the herrings, sardines, pilchards, sprats, shads, anchovies and wolf-herrings. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(7/2):305-579. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 189)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; bait: occasionally
More information
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Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00447 (0.00292 - 0.00682), b=3.18 (3.05 - 3.31), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.6 ±0.0 se; Based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.71-1.42).
Prior r = 1.18, 2 SD range = 0.59 - 2.37, log(r) = 0.17, SD log(r) = 0.35, Based on: 1 M, 8 K, 2 Fec records
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (11 of 100) .