"Anchovies" redirects here. For the food, see Anchovies as food. For the David Thomas Broughton EP, see Anchovies (EP). An anchovy is a small, common salt-water forage fish of the family Engraulidae.
The 144 species are placed in 17 genera; they are found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, and in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Anchovies are usually classified as oily fish
Anchovies are found in scattered areas throughout the world's oceans, but are concentrated in temperate waters, and are rare or absent in very cold or very warm seas.
Anchovies are small, green fish with blue reflections due to a silver-colored longitudinal stripe that runs from the base of the caudal fin.