Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
anchoveta

anchoveta

8.4
A small fish living off the coasts of Peru and Chile that people catch for animal food
  • noun
  • /ˌænʧoʊˈviːtə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : anchoveta
  • Fishermen in Peru rely heavily on anchoveta as a vital source of income and sustenance.

Examples

  • The most commonly harvested fish in the world today is anchoveta (Engraulis ringens), which has had a dynamic history of overharvest and fluctuating production.

    Academic text (2009)

  • To maximize growth and enhance flavor, aquaculture farms use large quantities of fishmeal and fish oil made from less valuable wild-caught species, including anchoveta and sardine.

    Blog text (19)

  • Anchoveta and sardine landings from Peru over the last 50 years.

    Academic text (2008)

  • When anchoveta are abundant, sardines are less abundant, and vice versa.

    Academic text (2008)

  • The diet of many predators in the ocean includes anchoveta, highlighting its ecological importance.

  • During peak fishing season, large quantities of anchoveta are processed for export to various countries.

Synonyms

anchovy
vsanchoveta
11 2.8

A small silvery fish often packed in salt and used to add a strong taste to food

is the South American industrial fish important in large scale fishing
Engraulidae
vsanchoveta
  • Specialized
9.9

Small saltwater fish often called anchovies that live together in large groups

is the specific South American commercial species within that family
Engraulis
vsanchoveta
  • Specialized
9.6

A type of small fish like anchovies that live together in the sea

is a South American commercial form rather than the broader genus

Surface Forms

anchoveta singular
anchovetas plural

Etymology

Anchoveta comes from Spanish: it is a small form of anchoa with the ending -eta meaning 'small', and it shares the same root as English anchovy. So anchoveta literally means a 'small anchovy', which fits this tiny fish off the coasts of Peru and Chile.