| Family: |
Alosidae (Shads and Sardines) |
| Max. size: |
60 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
pelagic-neritic; freshwater; brackish; marine, anadromous |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: along the coast from Maine to the St. John's River, Florida, USA (Ref. 188). Possibly in Campobello Island, New New Brunswick, Canada (Ref. 86798). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-20; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 19-23; Vertebrae: 53-55. Belly with distinct keel of scutes. Lower jaw very prominent, but not rising steeply within mouth; teeth reduced or in upper jaw absent in fishes over 23 cm standard length. A dark spot on shoulder, several obscure dark spots along flank (sometimes missing). Closely resembles A. chrysochloris which has stronger jaw teeth, no shoulder spot and the body depth less than head length (Ref. 188). Silvery, with a dark grayish green back (Ref. 7251). |
| Biology: |
In freshwater habitat, this species occurs in open water of large rivers (Ref. 86798). Schools of adults are found in marine waters, along the coast; also estuaries, tidal rivers and tributaries during late spring and early summer (Ref. 4639). Juveniles tend to leave nursery areas during summer (Ref. 4639). Feeds on small fishes, also squid, small crabs and other crustaceans, as well as fish eggs. Spawn in tidal freshwater (Patuxent River, Chesapeake Bay in May) (Ref. 188), and return to the sea shortly after (Ref. 4639). Parasites found are nematodes, cestodes and trematodes (Ref. 37032). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 14 October 2011 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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