Species: Anchoa parva, Little Anchovy

Anchoa parva (Meek & Hildebrand, 1923)

Little Anchovy

Fusiform, relatively deep bodied (depth 20-22% of SL); snout prominent, conical, projecting, pointed, short (~1/2 eye); rear of the mouth extends well behind the eye; lower jaw suspended below head; upper jaw tip sharply pointed, reaching just behind rear of preopercle; membrane between gill covers not expanded at rear; no large canine teeth; 24-29 lower gill rakers; top limb 3rd gill arch with 6-7 rakers; patch of gill filaments under gill cover short, not extending onto gill cover; anal fin with moderate base, 21-25 rays, origin under middle of dorsal fin base; axillary scale of pectoral reaching past middle of fin; pectorals short, not reaching pelvics; anus closer to pelvic-fin tips than to origin of anal fin.

Dark translucent grey above; silver stripe on flank ~pupil diameter wide.

Size: 8 cm.

Habitat: coastal areas, especially in brackish mangrove lined lagoons, also in freshwater as it has passed through the Panama Canal and has been found on the locks on the Pacific coast.

Depth: 0-10 m?

Gulf of Mexico to Brazil.