Species: Anchoa lyolepis, Dusky Anchovy, Short-finger Anchovy

Anchoa lyolepis (Evermann & Marsh, 1900)

Dusky Anchovy, Short-finger Anchovy

Elongate, relatively slender; snout prominent, conical, projecting, long (almost = eye) and pointed; rear of the mouth extends well behind the eye; lower jaw suspended below head; upper jaw tip pointed, reaching past front of preopercle, almost to gill opening; membrane between gill covers not expanded at rear; 19-28 lower gill rakers; top limb 3rd gill arch with 6-7 rakers; patch of gill filaments under gill cover long, extending onto gill cover; anal fin with moderate base, 19-24 branched rays, origin under or behind last dorsal ray; pectorals short, not reaching pelvics, without a long filament; anus closer to anal fin origin than to pelvic fin tips.

Dark translucent grey above; silver stripe on flank ~eye diameter wide, sometimes with dark line above; dorsal, anal and tail fins with dark spots along fin rays and around their bases.

Size: 12 cm.

Habitat: marine, pelagic and coastal; especially around beaches and in mangrove-lined lagoons.

Depth: 0-55 m?

New York to Brazil.

Two subspecies are recognized: A. l. lyolepis from Bermuda, the Antilles and Brazilian islands, and A. l. continentalis from the continental shore.