Anchois Bombra

Diagnosis: Body somewhat compressed, belly a little rounded, with 0-5 small needle-like pre-pelvic scutes; maxilla tip pointed, reaching to or a little beyond hind border of pre-operculum, the latter convex, rounded; lower gillrakers usually 23 to 28; small teeth present on upper edge of hyoid bones; isthmus muscle tapering evenly forward to hind border of branchial membrane; pelvic fin tips reaching to below anterior dorsal finrays; anal fin short, with usually 3 unbranched and 18-19 branched finrays, its origin below second half of dorsal fin base; body light transparent fleshy brown, with a silver stripe down flank; a pair of dark patches behind occiput, followed by a pair of dark lines to dorsal fin origin (Ref. 189). It closely resembles Stolephorus apiensis of Fiji and Samoa, which lacks pigment lines before the dorsal fin; and S. brachycephalus of Papua New Guinea, which has more anal finrays, no hyoid teeth, and more scutes; Stolephorus waitei has characteristic spots on the lower part of the head, and the pelvic fins do not reach to the dorsal fin origin, as also in S. chinensis; other Stolephorus species have the hind border of the pre-operculum concave near the maxilla tip (Ref. 189).Description: Body somewhat compressed, belly a little rounded (Ref. 189). Snout prominent; maxilla long, reaching to gill opening (Ref. 2871, 30573). Isthmus continuous, no silvery plate (Ref. 2871). Number of gill rakers on upper limb 17-21, on lower limb 23-28 (Ref. 122132). Pelvic-fin tip reaching beyond dorsal-fin origin; anal-fin origin below dorsal-fin base (Ref. 30573). With 0-5 small needle-like pre-pelvic scutes; no post-pelvic scutes (Ref. 189, 30573).Colouration: Body light transparent fleshy brown, with a silver stripe down flank; a pair of dark patches behind occiput, followed by a pair of dark lines to dorsal fin origin (Ref. 189).

Hexangium Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Anadromous. Fish that ascend rivers to spawn, as salmon and hilsa do. Sub-division of diadromous. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Anal spines: 0; Analsoft rays: 21 - 22

Apparently entering brackish water; present in Godavari estuary, India, from February to June in salinities of 19.6 to 32.0 o/oo, but almost completely absent during the subsequent flood season (Ref. 189). Juveniles and/or adults are found in mangrove inlets, subtidal edge of mud flats, near inshore and far inshore waters (Ref. 121464).

A schooling fish found in coastal waters, apparently entering brackish water (Ref. 189), at depths of 0-50 m (Ref. 82332). Present in Godavari estuary, India, from February to June in salinities of 19.6-32.0 ppt, but almost totally absent in subsequent flood season (Ref. 189). It feeds on surface plankton, primarily copepods and prawn larvae (Ref. 189). Eggs are oval with a knob (Ref. 189). Used for food and fish meal (Ref. 4537).

fisheries: commercial