1 62 Me??ioir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 



Genus Anchoa Jordan and Evermann 1927 



Anchoa Jordan and Evermann, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., ^ (16), 1927: 501; type species by original designation, 

 Engraulis compressiis Girard 1858. 



Characters. Body usually quite elongate, moderately to strongly compressed. 

 Maxillary long, reaching to, or more usually beyond, joint of mandible, frequently 

 to or nearly to margin of opercle, always more or less pointed (except in very young). 

 Gill rakers not numerous, seldom more than 22 on upper limb or more than 28 on 

 lower limb except in cubana among Atlantic species, not increasing in number with 

 age and growth. Anal origin under base of dorsal, rarely wholly behind it. Vertebrae 

 38-44, rarely 45 (in Atlantic species). 



Remarks. This genus differs from Anchoviella principally in its longer maxillary, 

 which is somewhat sharply pointed rather than rounded or squared distally. From 

 Anchovia it differs in the fewer gill rakers, the number of which does not increase with 

 age. It differs principally from Engraulis (not represented in the western North Atlantic) 

 in the more compressed body (also frequently deeper), and usually in the fewer verte- 

 brae. 



Species and Range. This genus contains many species that range the Atlantic 

 from Massachusetts (rarely Nova Scotia) to Argentina, and the Pacific from California 

 to Peru. Some of the species enter brackish or almost fresh water, but none is known 

 to run far upstream. 



Table I. Frequency Distribution of Anal Rays in Anchoa. 



^ Number of Rays >^ 



18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 



spimfer • • — 2 313 6 2 2 



argenteus — ■ i 



duodecim • i 



trinitatis 2 4 7 5 2 



cayorum 3222212 4 



pectoralis 6 8 2 I 



mitchilli mitchiUi • i 8 22 63 74 51 30 ii i 



miuhilli diaphana — ■ ■ — 2 11 55 83 62 44 14 5 



parva I 8 18 18 3 2 



januaria i 312 4 



choerostoma 5 14 16 9 3 



tricolor 2 93017 6 



cubana 913 7 9 + I 



girtiburgi 3 3 2 I I ■ 



lamprolaenia — 1103143815614 3— 



hepsetus hepsetus 21 28 42 57 20 3 



hepsetus colonensls 3 413 13 3 i 



lyolepis — 2 711 5 i— 



filifera — i 3 3 5 2 



