Flat Anchovy

Body slightly compressed; snout moderate, about 3/4 eye diameter; maxilla short with bluntly rounded tip, failing to reach pre-operculum by 1/2 pupil diameter; pseudobranch short, about 3/4 eye diameter; panamensis-type gill cover canals. Anal fin origin slightly behind base of last dorsal fin ray. A bright silver stripe along flank, about 3/4 or almost equal to eye, dark bordered above (Ref. 189). Body pale, few melanophores above, row of anal melanophores along anal-fin base. Eye orangish above, top of head with green and gold reflections (Ref. 7251).

Spawn in school (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 16; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 10 - 18

Occurs in coastal waters, apparently not entering brackish water. Rare in Florida shore seine collections, but 'in great numbers under a night light', perhaps because it may stay some distance from the shore in daytime.

fisheries: subsistence fisheries; bait: usually

N.C. (possibly to N.Y.) and n. Gulf Coast to W. Indies

nektonic