Table of Contents
The anchovies are small herring-like fishes; but they are easily distinguishable from the herrings by the fact that their mouths are not only very much larger and gape much farther back, but are on the lower side of the head, and are overhung by the upper jaw, which projects like a short piglike snout in some species. Two anchovies are known to occur in the Gulf of Maine; both are stragglers from the south.
| KEY TO GULF OF MAINE ANCHOVIES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Anal fin originates under the front of the dorsal; the silvery lateral band is diffuse; 24 to 27 anal fin rays | — | Anchovy, p. 118 |
| Anal fin originates under the rear rays of the dorsal; silvery lateral band bright and well defined; 20 or 21 anal fin rays | — | Striped anchovy, p. 119 | |
[40] For a recent review of the American anchovies see Hildebrand, Bull. Bingham Oceanographic Coll., vol. 8, art. 2, 1943.