On the vertebral number of anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus (L.), in the Central Adriatic

Abstract

      Twelve samples of anchovy catches with a total of 1295 individuals from the most inshore coastal waters (Kaštela Bay) and the open ones (the region of Vis and Biševo Islands) of the Central Adriatic were analysed with respect to their number of vertebrae.

       The vertebral number of anchovy ranged from 44 to 47. The mode of 46 vertebrae was observed in almost all the examined samples.

        Total mean value of anchovy vertebral number from both regions was 45.7436.