Engraulis capensis
Engraulis capensis Gilchrist, 1913
Southern African anchovy
Engraulis capensis
photo by FAO

Family:  Engraulidae (Anchovies), subfamily: Engraulinae
Max. size:  17 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range - 450 m
Distribution:  Southeast Atlantic: South Africa and Namibia.
Diagnosis:  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). Description: Anal-fin origin well behind dorsal fin (Ref. 30573). No scutes before pelvic fins (Ref. 30573).
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).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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