Description

Diagnosis: It hardly differs from the European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus); of other anchovies in southern and eastern African waters, species of Stolephorus have 3 to 7 sharp needle-like scutes along the belly, while species of Thryssa have compressed bodies and a keel of scutes along the belly (Ref. 189).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Clupeiformes

Family: Engraulidae

Genus: Engraulis

Species: Engraulis capensis Gilchrist, 1913

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Pelagic in coastal waters, but down to a depth of about 400 m (Ref. 30573). It feeds on planktonic organisms (Ref. 30573). Larvae and juveniles were observed to be selective, raptorial carnivores and switched to non-selective filter feeding omnivory when adults. Caught with purse seines in South Africa and Namibia (Ref. 80687).

Habitat

neritic

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Threat to Humans

Harmless