Anchovies are the members of the Engraulidae family. They are small or moderate-sized fish, typically below 20 cm. They are recognized by their usually prominent pig-like snout projecting beyond tip of lower jaw and their lower jaw almost always long, slender and underslung. Most Indo-Pacific species have prepelvic and often postpelvic scutes.
Anchovies are found in all seas from about 60°N to 50°S. They are typically marine fishes but can also be found in brackish and freshwater. Most of them inhabit shallow coastal waters and estuaries. They frequently occur in large schools. Most species feed on small planktonic animals either by locating individual prey or by filter-feeding.
There are 17 genera and about 145 species of Engraulidae worldwide. Malaysia has about 6 genera and about 32 species.
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Scientific Name: Setipinna taty (Valenciennes, 1848) English Name: Scaly Hairfin Anchovy Local Malay Name: Ikan Kasai Janggut, Bersia, Biang, Jelebat, Empurung, Ikan Kucing, Empirang Kasai Bahasa Indonesia: Ikan Teri, Galeberan Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาแมว (Plā mæw) Main Identification Features: Body strongly compressed, abdomen with complete series of keeled scutes from isthmus to anus. A spine-like scute anterior to dorsal-fin origin. Mouth nearly horizontal. Pectoral fins with first fin ray produced as a long filament. Upper lobe of caudal fin shorter than lower lobe. Keeled scutes on abdomen 32 to 40. Size: Maximum standard length 14 cm, commonly to about 10 cm. Habitat and Ecology: Mainly coastal marine waters, to 50 m depth, but also entering estuaries. Pelagic and schooling species.  Scientific Name: Stolephorus commersonnii Lacepède, 1803 English Name: Commerson's Anchovy Mandarin Name | 鱼类中文名: 江鱼仔 (Jiāng yú zǐ), 孔氏小公鱼 (Kǒng shì xiǎo gōng yú) Local Malay Name: Ikan Bilis, Pusu, Besin, Bunga Air, Bilis Tembaga Bahasa Indonesia: Ikan Teri, Bilis, Ake Lae Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลากะตักควาย (Plā katạk khwāy) Hokkien: Kang Hu Kia Main Identification Features: Body light transparent fleshy brown, with a silver stripe down flank. Maxilla comparatively long, tip reaching to slightly beyond posterior border of preopercle. A pair of dark patches posterior to occiput, followed by a pair of dark lines on dorsum to dorsal-fin origin. Size: Maximum standard length 10 cm, commonly about 8.5 cm. Habitat and Ecology: Coastal, pelagic, and schooling species.  Scientific Name: Stolephorus indicus (van Hasselt, 1823) English Name: Indian Anchovy Mandarin Name | 鱼类中文名: 江鱼仔 (Jiāng yú zǐ), 印度侧带小公鱼 (Yìndù cè dài xiǎo gōng yú) Local Malay Name: Ikan Bilis, Pusu, Bilis Paku, Bilis Bunga Air Bahasa Indonesia: Ikan Teri Pinggir Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาไส้ตันใหญ่ (Plā s̄ị̂tạn yai) Hokkien: Kang Hu Kia Main Identification Features: Body slender, elongate, nearly round in cross-section, light transparent fleshy brown, with silver stripe down flank. Upper head stippled dark brown but no dark pigment lines on back between head and dorsal fin. Bases of dorsal and anal fins with faintly pigmented melanophores. Size: Maximum standard length 15.3 cm, commonly around 11 cm. Habitat and Ecology: Coastal, pelagic, and schooling species.  Scientific Name: Thryssa dussumieri (Valenciennes, 1848) English Name: Dussumier's Thryssa, Moustached Thryssa Local Malay Name: Ikan Kasai Daun, Bakok Daun, Bokok Daun, Bakok Minyak, Kasai Minyak Bahasa Indonesia: Ikan Teri, Bilis Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาแมว (Plā mæw) Main Identification Features: Body compressed, abdomen with 21 to 24 keeled scutes from isthmus to anus. Maxilla very long, reaching posteriorly to a point at least halfway along length of pectoral fin. A dark blotch behind upper part of gill opening, sometimes joined to dark saddle on nape. Size: Maximum standard length 11 cm. Habitat and Ecology: Shallow coastal, pelagic, and schooling species. Feeds on diatoms when young and prawn larvae, copepods, and cypris when larger. 
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