Relevant synonyms None Misidentification None Meristic formula D, 15-16; A, 17-20; P, 15-17 ; V, ; LL, 36-38  photo : Daniel Golani

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body slender and compressed. Pointed snout. Upper jaw much longer than lower jaw, reaching back to operculum edge. Series of fine teeth in the jaws. A single dorsal fin at the midpoint of the body. Anal fin origin under or slightly beyond end of dorsal fin. Caudal fin forked. A series of small pre-pelvic 4-8 needle-like scutes. color : back grey with dark spots. A wide silver line along the body. Lower flank and belly silver-grey. size : common 4-5 cm (max. 6.5 cm). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Engraulis encrasicolus: no scutes on the belly. Anal fin origin clearly behind end of dorsal fin. Clupeidae: both jaws same length. Atherinidae: two dorsal fins. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Feeds on small invertebrates. Eggs and larvae pelagic. habitat : benthopelagic.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD 2010, Israel (specimens from 1985 were found in the Hebrew University Fish Collection). DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Indo-Pacific. It has not been recorded from the Red Sea but its invasion into the Mediterranean is evidently the result of a Red Sea population that has been overlooked. Mediterranean : Israel. ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Most likely common or prevalent, but may be confused with the local Engraulis encrasicolus. speculated reasons for success : MODE OF INTRODUCTION Via the Suez Canal. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS Little or none.

KEY REFERENCES Fricke R., Golani D. and Appelbaum-Golani B., 2012. First record of the Indian Ocean anchovy Stolephorus insularis Hardenberg, 1933 in the Mediterranean (Clupeiformes: Engraulidae). BioInvasions Records, 1 (4): 303-306. Whitehead P.J.P, Nelson G.J. and Wongratana T., 1988. FAO species catalogue. Clupeoid fishes of the world (Suborder Clupeoidei). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the herrings, sardines, pilchards, sprats, anchovies and wolfherrings. Part 2. Engraulididae. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). Fisheries Synopsis, (125) 7 (2): 305-579. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: November 2013 ©ciesm 2002