Engraulis

Engraulis is a genus of small, pelagic fishes in the family Engraulidae, commonly known as anchovies. Species of Engraulis are found in temperate and tropical seas worldwide, especially along continental shelves and in upwelling zones.

An anchovy typically has a slender, laterally compressed body, a pointed snout, a small terminal mouth, and a single dorsal fin placed behind the midpoint. Adults are usually silvery with a blue-green back; they grow to roughly 5–15 cm, with some species approaching 20–25 cm. They form large, fast-moving schools. Diet consists mainly of planktonic crustaceans and small zooplankton; feeding occurs by filtering water through gill rakers.

Notable species include Engraulis encrasicolus (European anchovy), Engraulis mordax (northern anchovy), Engraulis japonicus (Japanese anchovy), Engraulis ringens (Peruvian anchoveta), and Engraulis anchoita (Argentine anchovy).

Ecology and fisheries: Anchovies serve as a crucial prey for larger fish, seabirds, and marine mammals; some populations support major commercial fisheries. The Peruvian anchoveta stock, for example, supports large-scale fishmeal and fish oil production; European anchovy is important in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Populations are highly variable and influenced by climate patterns such as ENSO; management often involves catch quotas and area closures to avoid overfishing.

Taxonomy and notes: Engraulis belongs to the family Engraulidae, order Clupeiformes, class Actinopterygii.