Anchoa tricolor (Spix & Agassiz, 1829)
Piquitinga anchovy
Anchoa tricolor
photo by Carvalho Filho, A.

Family:  Engraulidae (Anchovies), subfamily: Engraulinae
Max. size:  14.9 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 24.1 g
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 50 m
Distribution:  Southwest Atlantic: CearĂ¡, Brazil southward to Mar de la Plata, Argentina.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 16-19. Snout long, pointed, about 3/4 eye diameter; maxilla moderate, tip not sharply pointed, not or only just reaching to hind border of pre-operculum; gill cover canals of panamensis-type. Anal fin short, its origin below or behind midpoint of dorsal fin base. A broad silver stripe along flank, about 3/4 eye diameter.
Biology:  A schooling species found in coastal waters, but also entering brackish water. More data needed (Ref. 189). Found in markets (Ref. 37032). Largely utilized as bait for commercial fishery, oil, flour, and also canned fish (Ref. 103984).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 06 March 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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