Australian anchovy (Engraulis australis) fish species and information / pictures of Australian anchovy - Engraulis australis

Australian anchovy (Engraulis australis) fish species information

Scientific Name
Engraulis australis

Common Name
Australian anchovy

Biology
Found mostly inshore: chiefly in bays, inlets and estuaries, sometimes in low salinities. Older individuals tend to move out to sea in winter and back in the spring. Forms compact schools much preyed upon by larger fishes, common dolphins and birds. Feeds on plankton. Spawns in inlets, bays and also estuaries, probably throughout the year but mainly in late spring to early autumn and especially about November to February. The eggs are ellipsoidal. Utilized as fish paste.

Classification

Classified By

White, 1790

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Herrings (Clupeiformes)

Family

Anchovies (Engraulidae)

Distribution

Region

Southwest Pacific

Distribution

Southwest Pacific: Australia (from Queensland at about Cape Capricorn south to southern Tasmania; entire southern coast of Australia, except for Great Australian Bight, and north to Shark Bay, Western Australia), including Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island; and New Zealand (most of the North Island and all but the southeast coast of the South Island).

Range

20°S - 47°S, 109°E - 177°W

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

31 m

Depth To - meters

70 m

Zone

pelagic-neritic

Environment

Marine; brackish; pelagic-neritic; depth range 31 - 70 m (Ref. 58489)

Trophic Level

3 s.e. 0.00 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

15.0 cm

Common Length

12.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5020 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; bait: usually

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (29 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.39; tm=1; tmax=6)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated