Bareback Anchovy

Belly with 5 or 6 pre-pectoral needle-like scutes, none behind, and a series of membrane-like post -pelvic scutes more or less concealed by the scales. Maxilla short, tip blunt; first supra-maxilla large, elongate, more than twice length of second. Pectoral fins wing-like; pelvic fins small; dorsal fin minute, the second unbranched fin ray elongated. A distinct dark blotch behind gill opening.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 3 - 4; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 51 - 57

Presumed to be estuarine, but perhaps ascends rivers or migrates into coastal waters. The minute teeth and rather numerous gillrakers suggest a diet of small planktonic animals. The species is probably uncommon as there seems to be only four preserved specimens.

Presumed to be estuarine, but perhaps ascends rivers or migrates into coastal waters. The minute teeth and rather numerous gillrakers suggest a diet of small planktonic animals. The species is probably uncommon as there seems to be only four preserved specimens.

Papuengraulis micropinna, the littlefin anchovy, is a species of marine/brackish water anchovy that is only found in the Gulf of Papua, the mouths of rivers that drain into it and the Arafura Sea. It is the only species in its genus.