# European Anchovy (*Engraulis encrasicolus*) The European Anchovy is a small fish that is often found in warm waters. They are known for their strong flavor and are used in many dishes! - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Warm coastal waters - **Also known as:** Anchovy, Mediterranean Anchovy ![European Anchovy](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424448/objects/4699.jpg) ## Appearance The European Anchovy is a small, slender fish with a silvery-white belly and a bluish-green to black back. It has a distinctive pointed snout and a large mouth that extends behind its eye, setting it apart from other small schooling fish. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Teleostei - **Order:** Clupeiformes - **Family:** Engraulidae - **Genus:** Engraulis ## Interesting facts - Anchovy populations can change dramatically from year to year, sometimes booming and sometimes declining! - Despite their small size, anchovies are an incredibly important food source for many larger ocean animals. - Many ancient civilizations, like the Romans, used anchovies to make a famous fermented sauce called garum! - Their tiny, transparent eggs float freely in the ocean, drifting with currents until they hatch into larvae. ## Special abilities - **Super Sniffer:** European Anchovy can detect tiny food particles with its sensitive olfactory organs, helping it find meals efficiently. - **School Shield:** European Anchovy has evolved to swim in massive schools that helps them confuse predators and find safety in numbers. - **Glow Gills:** European Anchovy has specialized gill rakers that help them filter-feed tiny plankton efficiently from the water. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 10-20 cm - **Weight:** 0.01-0.03 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-4 years - **Swim Speed:** 15 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 400 m - **Water Type:** Saltwater ## Diet & Feeding These tiny fish are filter-feeders, straining microscopic plants and animals from the water. - **Primary Foods:** phytoplankton, zooplankton, larval crustaceans - **Foraging Method:** Filter feeding ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Atlantic Mackerel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/atlantic-mackerel) (*Scomber scombrus*) — Mackerel are common predators of anchovy schools. - **Eaten by:** Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (*Thunnus thynnus*) — Tuna rely heavily on anchovies as a vital food source. - **Eaten by:** [Yellow-legged Gull](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-legged-gull) (*Larus michahellis*) — Gulls dive into anchovy schools for easy meals. - **Eaten by:** Harbor Porpoise (*Phocoena phocoena*) — Porpoises actively hunt anchovies in coastal waters. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify European Anchovy? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is European Anchovy? 10-20 cm ### How much does European Anchovy weigh? 0.01-0.03 kg ### How long does European Anchovy live? 2-4 years ### What does European Anchovy eat? These tiny fish are filter-feeders, straining microscopic plants and animals from the water. ### How fast can European Anchovy swim? 15 km/h ### Where is European Anchovy usually found? Warm coastal waters ### How does European Anchovy hunt? Filter feeding ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [European Anchovy: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-anchovy)