Anchovy

Snout quite sharply pointed; maxilla moderate, tip sharply pointed, reaching to or almost to hind border of pre-operculum, projecting well beyond tip of second supra-maxilla; tip of lower jaw below nostril. gill rakers slender, long; absent on hind face of third epibranchial. Anal fin origin under about base of last dorsal fin ray. A silver stripe along flank, disappearing with age.

Spawns from British Colombia south to Magdalena Bay, Baja California, but most abundantly between Point Conception and Point San Juanico. There are two major spawning areas: 1) off southern California and northern Baja California and 2) off central and southern Baja California. Oviparous (Ref. 35602). Spawns either in inlets or offshore, throughout the year but mainly in winter and early spring, depending on hydrological conditions (preferably at 10 to 23.3° C in upper water layers and around 22.00 hours). Spawning occurs at night between 2000 and 0400 hour (Ref. 6882).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 19; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 19 - 26; Vertebrae: 43 - 47

Coastal species occurring within 30 km offshore, but may be found as far as 480 km offshore and down to 219 m depth. Forms tightly packed schools; enters bays and inlets (e.g., to about 2 km up Newport Bay, mainly in July and September - (Ref. 6361). Feeds both by random filter- and particulate-feeding (Ref. 42392). Moves up near the surface at night.

Usually found in coastal waters within about 30 km from shore, but as far out as 480 km, forming large, tightly packed schools. Enters bays and inlets. Feeds on euphausiids, copepods and decapod larvae, both by random filter-feeding and by 'pecking' at prey. Oviparous, epipelagic batch spawner (Ref. 6882). Spawns throughout the year, peaking once (Ref. 6882). Processed into fishmeal, used as bait for tuna, occasionally canned (Ref. 9298).

fisheries: commercial; bait: usually