Engraulidae

/ɛnˌɡrɔːˈlaɪdɪ/ noun

Definition

A family of small fish that includes anchovies, characterized by their small size and silvery coloring.

Etymology

From Engraulis (the genus name) + -idae (Latin suffix denoting a family of organisms). Engraulis itself comes from Greek engraulis, meaning 'anchovy.'

Kelly Says

Engraulidae are so abundant in the ocean that they represent one of the largest biomasses of fish on Earth—a single school can contain millions of tiny anchovies, making them crucial to feeding larger fish and marine mammals.

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