Argentine anchovy

Marine fish with regularly ossified skeleton. Elongated and fusiform body, covered with cycloid (smooth) scales, large and delicate structure that detach with great facility. Big head, eyes covered by a thin film. Pointed and prominent snout. Wide mouth, ends behind the eye whose edges with sharp and tiny teeth. A single dorsal fin located approximately in the middle of the body. Short pectoral fins, ventral fins in abdominal position, anal fin of base greater than dorsal fin and similar form, caudal fin forked. Color: dark blue dorsally; blue violaceus laterally, with iridescent sheen; rest of the body white or silver. All fins transparent. Maximum published weight: 25 g. Standard maximum length: 17 cm.