Teleostei (teleosts) >
Clupeiformes (Herrings) >
Engraulidae (Anchovies) > Engraulinae
Etymology: Stolephorus: Greek, stole, -es = garment + Greek, pherein = to carry (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Boulenger.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 50 m (Ref. 189). Subtropical; 24°S - 40°S, 21°E - 37°E (Ref. 189)
Indian Ocean: Southwestern Indian Ocean, from northern Mozambique south to Port Elizabeth in South Africa (Ref. 189, 5430), including estuaries of Zwartkops River (Ref. 189, 5430), Kei River (Ref. 189) and Umtata River (Ref. 81587).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 8.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 189)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 17; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 20 - 23. Diagnosis: Body somewhat compressed, belly with 6-8 small needle-like pre-pelvic scutes, no post-pelvic scutes; maxilla tip pointed, reaching to or beyond hind border of pre-operculum, the latter concave, indented near maxilla tip; lower gillrakers 24-29; anal fin short, usually with 3 unbranched and 17-20 branched finrays, its origin below about middle of dorsal fin base (Ref. 189, 5430). Of similar species in its distribution area, Stolephorus indicus is round-bodied and has a shorter maxilla, not to hind border of pre-operculum; and Encrasicholina punctifer has the anal fin origin behind the dorsal fin base (Ref. 189).
A coastal, pelagic and schooling species; its presence in estuaries suggests that it can tolerate brackish water (Ref. 189). It is common along shore and in estuaries (Ref. 5430). It feeds on plankton, mainly copepods (Ref. 58304). It spawns in summer, usually at sea (Ref. 58304).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Whitehead, P.J.P., G.J. Nelson and T. Wongratana, 1988. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 7. Clupeoid fishes of the world (Suborder Clupeoidei). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the herrings, sardines, pilchards, sprats, shads, anchovies and wolf-herrings. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(7/2):305-579. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 189)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
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