Description:
Bay anchovies are elongate, compressed fishes that reach approximately 6 inches in length.  Body color is green or blue-green dorsally, silver along the sides, and white ventrally.  A thin, silvery stripe runs along the body from the gill plate to the caudal peduncle.  The eyes are large, the mouth wide and inferior.  The pelvic fins are abdominally placed, and the caudal fin is deeply forked. 

Habitat:
Bay anchovies are abundant in estuaries, river mouths, and bays.  They are common throughout the Indian River Lagoon, especially in seagrass areas.

Similar Species:
Several species of anchovies are common in the Indian River Lagoon, especially the striped anchovy (Anchoa hepsetus).  Striped anchovies are somewhat larger, less compressed, and have a more prominent midlateral stripe along the body than do bay anchovies.  Striped anchovies also differ in their primary habitat, being found more commonly in nearshore coastal waters rather than in estuaries.

Range:
Bay anchovies range from the Gulf of Maine south through Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.