Anchovy Anchovy An anchovy is a small, common forage fish of the family Engraulidae. Most species are found in marine waters, but several will enter brackish water and some in South America are restricted to fresh water. The more than 140 species are placed in 17 genera; they are found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, and in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Anchovies are usually classified as oily fish. Anchovies are small, green fish with blue reflections due to a silver-colored longitudinal stripe that runs from the base of the caudal (tail) fin. They range from in
Nannostomus unifasciatus with a small terminal mouth, and an adipose fin. It has one black longitudinal stripe that runs the length of the body and onto the caudal fin. The single black stripe is bordered above by a thin metallic gold band. The caudal is colored variously depending on the geographic population. Most all forms have red or orange pigment of varying intensity in the lower quadrant of the caudal, ventral to the black stripe. In some especially colorful populations, the red pigment extends above the black stripe as well, as pictured above. The Guyanese population, as well as one form from