Anchois

Engraulis encrasicolus

Least Concern Saltwater

Longueur maximale

20,0 cm

Poids maximum

0,05 kg

Couleur

Blue-green metallic back with a …

Plage de profondeur

0-400m

Famille

Engraulidae

Catégorie

Food Fish

À propos

The European anchovy is a small, schooling fish that plays a vital role in marine food webs. Packed with omega-3 fatty acids, it is a culinary staple from pizza toppings to Caesar salad dressing to the fermented fish sauce garum of ancient Rome.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value
Maximum Length	20,0 cm
Maximum Weight	0,05 kg
Plage de profondeur	0-400m

Coloration

Blue-green metallic back with a distinctive bright silver-blue lateral stripe along the mid-flank; belly silvery-white; slender body with large thin scales; fins are clear and colorless.

Habitat & Distribution

Neritic, estuaries

Type d'eau

Saltwater

Plage de profondeur

0-400m

Aire de répartition

Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, and eastern Atlantic from the British Isles south to South Africa. Forms large pelagic shoals on continental shelf waters; key spawning grounds in the Adriatic, Bay of Biscay, and Azov Sea.

Pays

🇻🇳 Vietnam

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Distribution Map

Present Not recorded countries

Conservation Status

Least Concern IUCN Red List

Anchois is classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Comestibilité et gastronomie

Goût

Intensely savory, oily flesh with high umami and salt-cured depth; rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Essential in Mediterranean cuisines — used in pasta, pizza, salads, and as anchovy paste.

Taxonomy

Ordre	Perciformes (Perch-like fishes)
Famille	Engraulidae (Anchovies)
Espèces	Engraulis encrasicolus

Names in Other Languages

Language	Name
French	Anchois
Spanish	Boquerón

Foire aux questions

Can you eat Anchois?

Intensely savory, oily flesh with high umami and salt-cured depth; rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Essential in Mediterranean cuisines — used in pasta, pizza, salads, and as anchovy paste.

How big does Anchois get?

Anchois can grow up to 20.0 cm long and weigh 0.05 kg.

Where is Anchois found?

Is Anchois endangered?

The conservation status of Anchois is Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List.

What family does Anchois belong to?

Anchois (Engraulis encrasicolus) belongs to the family Engraulidae (Anchovies) in the order Perciformes (Perch-like fishes).