Peruvian anchovy

Marine fish with regularly ossified skeleton. Slender, elongated, rather round in cross-section body. Snout pointed; maxilla short, tip bluntly rounded, tip of lower jaw in front of nostril. 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. Anal fin origin well behind base of last dorsal finray. The high number of gillrakers distinguishes it from all Pacific species of Anchoa. Color: body shiny blue or green, there is a silver stripe along flank in young individuals which disappears with age. Standard maximum length: 20 cm.