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
Oplopomus oplopomus stripe, while the second dorsal fin is studded with small dark spots. The pectoral fin is also covered with small spots. The base of the anal fin and the rear portion of the ventral fins are black. The caudal fin has a stripe running through the center. Males have more intense blue markings than females. Juveniles have more black spots and less yellow and blue spots than the adults. Spinecheek gobies belong to the genus "Oplopomus" of the goby family, Gobiidae. The species was first described by the French zoologist Achille Valenciennes in 1837 as "Gobius oplopomus". Spinecheek gobies are