Bareback Anchovy
Papuengraulis Micropinna
© 2026 MarineWise
Quick Facts
Distribution
- The Bareback Anchovy is a tiny, slender fish that grows to about 12 cm long. That makes it one of the smallest anchovies found in Australian waters.
- In Australia, it lives along the tropical north. It is found in coastal waters and river mouths stretching from the Keep River estuary to the East Alligator River in the Northern Territory.
- Beyond Australia, the Bareback Anchovy is known from the Gulf of Papua in Papua New Guinea. This gives it a very small and localised range overall.
- This anchovy moves between coastal waters and rivers, coping with both salt water and fresh water. It is usually found in shallow water down to about 20 m deep.
- It is thought to feed on tiny drifting animals and plant matter near the surface, as most anchovies of this kind do.
- Like other anchovies, the Bareback Anchovy is likely a schooling fish, moving through coastal waters and in estuaries in groups.
- It is an exceptionally rare fish in museum and scientific collections. Only a handful of preserved specimens are known to exist, which makes it one of the least-studied anchovies in the world.
- Because so few specimens have ever been collected, almost nothing is known about how the Bareback Anchovy breeds, how fast it grows, or how long it lives.
- Predators of anchovies generally include seabirds, dolphins, sharks and larger fish. The Bareback Anchovy, where it does occur, likely fills that same role in the local food web.
- The Bareback Anchovy is the only member of its genus, Papuengraulis, making it a one-of-a-kind fish with no close living relatives.
- There is still a great deal to learn about the Bareback Anchovy. It remains one of the most poorly known fish in Australian coastal waters.
Species Interaction
Bareback Anchovy: A Rarely Seen Northern Estuary Fish
- Research & Rare Encounters
- Ecosystem Role
The Bareback Anchovy is one of Australia’s least-known fish, with only four preserved specimens on record. It inhabits river mouths and coastal waters across a narrow stretch of the Northern Territory and the Gulf of Papua, but encounters are extremely rare. Researchers and fisheries scientists have barely documented it, and there is almost no documented human use beyond occasional use as bait fish.
Scientific Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Teleostei
- Order: Clupeiformes
- Family: Engraulidae
- Genus: Papuengraulis
- Species: Papuengraulis micropinna
Conservation Status
The Bareback Anchovy is listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN (assessed July 2017), meaning there is insufficient information to determine its risk of extinction. It has no listing under Australia’s EPBC Act. Its restricted range, from the Gulf of Papua to the Northern Territory coast, makes population monitoring difficult.
Interaction Highlights
Research
Only four preserved specimens are known, making it among Australia's least-studied fish.
Ecosystem
A small planktivore in estuarine food webs, eaten by larger predatory fish and seabirds.
Elusive / Overlooked Species
Finding: Difficult
Temperament: Shy
Location: Inner reef, Offshore
Danger: None
