Anchovy
Otolith description
The general shape of the otolith is ovally pointed. The straight sulcus runs to the centre of the otolith. The sulcus is not well developed and open at the ostium. Ostium and cauda can not be distinguished. The surface of the inside and outside is smooth, with some remarkably sharp points at the ventral margin. The anterior margin is indented at the ostium and the posterior end is pointed. The rostrum of the otolith is well developed and pointed as, is the antirostrum. The otolith is thin and flat at both the inside and outside. Anchovy otoliths do not exceed 4.5 mm in length.
Anchovy otoliths are difficult to distinguish from other clupeiformes. The sulcus of other clupeiformes is open. Herring Clupea harengus otoliths have a sulcus that is better developed The rostrum of herring otoliths is better developed and is more rounded. The posterior end of herring otoliths is indented and at an angle of 90° with the ventral side, while anchovy otoliths are not indented and pointed and have a shorter antirostrum at the posterior end. The ventral side of the otolith in herring is lobate while anchovy otoliths have some sharp points. Otoliths of sprat Sprattus sprattus are rounder and the posterior end is indented. Pilchard Sardina pilchardus has a more pointed rostrum than anchovy otoliths. The otoliths of twaite shad Alosa fallax have a rounded better developed rostrum and between the rostrum and antirostrum another protruding element.
When eroded the spikes at the ventral margin disappear, the sulcus becomes less distinct and the ventral margin is smoothed. Often the rostrum is missing after the otolith has gone through the digestive tract of an animal.
Fish length and distribution
Anchovy can grow up to 20 cm. Anchovy is a pelagic, schooling roundfish (ENGRENCR.TIF) that is found in the surface waters of the sea. In summer it migrates towards shore waters and estuaries where it spawns from June to August (Wheeler, 1978, Nijssen and De Groot, 1987, Muus et al., 1999).
Anchovy is found in the Atlantic, North Sea and Baltic.
Sample origin
Fyke.