4. Setipinna tenuifilis (Valenciennes, 1848)

Common hairfin anchovy (Figure 5)

Material examined: 1 ex.; 20.09.2005; Shankarpur; Reg. No. MARC /ZSI/F1627 .

Description: Body fusiform, strongly compressed; abdomen sharply keeled with 17 to 21 pre-pelvic and 6 or 7 post-pelvic scutes. Back greenish black, flanks silvery dashed with gold. Dorsal and caudal fin margins dusky.

Distribution: Eastern Indian Ocean: northern and eastern Bay of Bengal coasts, including the Andaman Islands; perhaps southward from the Godavari river. Western Pacific: northern coast of Australia, Arafura Sea, Gulf of Papua, Sarawak, presumably the Philippines and Hong Kong; China from Taiwan north to Yellow Sea and southern part of Sea of Japan.

Remarks: The fish is minor commercial. Size: 22 cm.