Diverse indices have been used to characterize the nutritional condition of fish larvae. Histological criteria were shown to be reliable in diagnosing nutritional condition, because they involve the study of cellular aspect, structure and tissular integrity. However, since the microscopical appearance of larval tissues varies both as a consequence of nutritional status and developmental stages, it becomes necessary to characterize the employed structures and to take into account the developmental stage of the studied specimen. The aim of this study was to develop a typical micro-anatomical description to assess the nutritional condition of Engraulis anchoita fish larvae collected in the Argentine Sea. Several tissues were diagnosed to calculate a histological condition index (ICH) in regards to anchovy larvae ontogeny. In addition, the tissues analysed were divided into short and long-term indices. A reduction of HCI was observed during yolk exhaustion and at the end of the larval stage. In order to detect slight changes in histological condition, short term tissues proved to be more sensitive to starvation than long term tissues.