Coilia nasus Temminck & Schlegel, 1846
Japanese grenadier anchovy
Coilia nasus
photo by Islam, Md. S.

Family:  Engraulidae (Anchovies), subfamily: Coiliinae
Max. size:  41 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 50 m, anadromous
Distribution:  Northwest Pacific: Canton north to Ariake Sound, southwestern Japan, including all of Yellow Sea and off western coasts of Korea. Penetrates over 1000 km up the Yangtze River.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 80. Body tapering, belly rounded before pelvic fins, with 16 to 26 + 25 to 36 = 43 to 61 keeled scutes from isthmus to anus. Maxilla long, reaching to or almost to base of first pectoral fin ray. Pectoral fin with 6 filaments; branched fin rays longer than those of pelvic fin.
Biology:  Occurs in coastal waters, estuaries and reaching up to middle parts of rivers, apparently able to tolerate freshwater (Ref. 189, 11230). Lives in not really clean water but not really turbid water either (Ref. 12218). Goes to the deep water areas of rivers at night (Ref. 12218). Planktivore (Ref. 12218). Spawns around three times in a lifetime and spawning occurs in between reeds (Ref. 12218). In Ariake Sound, Japan it breeds from May to August, the fishes running about 15 km up the Chikugo River and spawning in freshwater, the spherical eggs floating down and hatching near the river mouth. Its relatively large size makes it a more esteemed food fish than most Coilia. Used in Chinese medicine (Ref. 12166).
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 01 March 2017 (A2bd) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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