small herring-like plankton-feeding fishes often canned whole or as paste; abundant in tropical waters worldwide tiny Mediterranean fishes usually canned or salted; used for hors d'oeuvres or as seasoning in sauces
Anchovies are small fish that live in the sea. They are often eaten salted. anchovies a very small fish that tastes strongly of salt. Any of more than 100 species of schooling saltwater fishes (family Engraulidae) related to the herring. Anchovies are distinguished by a large mouth, almost always extending behind the eye, and by a pointed snout. Most species live in shallow tropical or warm temperate seas, where they often enter brackish water around river mouths. Adults are 4-10 in. (10-25 cm) long. Temperate species such as the northern and European anchovies are important food fishes; tropical species such as the tropical anchovy, or anchoveta, are important bait fishes. See also schooling behaviour
A small fish, about three inches in length, of the Herring family (Engraulis encrasicholus), caught in vast numbers in the Mediterranean, and pickled for exportation