Anchoa starksi (Gilbert & Pierson, 1898)
Starks's anchovy
photo by Robertson, R.

Family:  Engraulidae (Anchovies), subfamily: Engraulinae
Max. size:  7.7 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 50 m
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: El Salvador to Ecuador, perhaps south to northern Peru.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 16-22. Snout moderate, about 3/4 eye diameter; maxilla quite long, tip pointed, reaching almost to edge of gill cover; lower gill rakers increasing in larger fishes; pseudobranch long, extending onto inner face of operculum; gill cover canals of panamensis-type. Anal fin short, its origin under posterior third of dorsal fin base. Broad silver stripe along flank, lost with age.
Biology:  Occurs in coastal waters. In the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica, it is confined to the inner parts, thus apparently tolerating lowered salinities
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 November 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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