Where Does Anchovy Live?

Anchovy lives in specific habitats. Knowing where to look helps you find and identify it.

Where to find Anchovy

Water type

saltwater

Depth

Typically pelagic, inhabiting coastal waters from the surface down to about 200 meters (650 feet), though most commonly found in the upper 50 meters.

Environment

Marine, coastal, estuarine, and sometimes brackish waters. They prefer temperate and subtropical waters, often found over continental shelves.

Geographic range

Globally distributed in temperate and tropical seas. Key species include: *Engraulis encrasicolus* (European Anchovy) in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Black Sea; *Engraulis mordax* (Northern Anchovy) along the Pacific coast of North America; *Engraulis ringens* (Peruvian Anchovy) off the coasts of Peru and Chile; and *Engraulis japonicus* (Japanese Anchovy) in the Western Pacific.

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