Species: Alosa aestivalis, Blueback Herring, Blueback Shad

gill rakers 41-51
jaw teeth minute/absent
Alosa aestivalis (Mitchill, 1814)
Blueback Herring, Blueback Shad
Relatively deep bodied, moderately compressed; snout longer than eye; upper jaw with a distinct central notch into which the lower jaw fits; upper edge of lower jaw rising steeply within mouth; minute jaw teeth at front that disappear with age; 41-51 slender lower gill rakers, upper rakers long, folding down over lower ones; gill rakers on rear surface of upper part of 3rd gill arch; dorsal fin at about mid-body; pelvic fins (i, 8) below dorsal fin; anal fin short and well behind dorsal fin base; a forked tail fin; all of centerline of belly with keel of scutes (hard, spiny scales); no scutes before dorsal fin; scales smooth, well attached.
Upper back distinctly blue, sometimes with dusky lines in adults, shading to silver below; a dark spot behind gill cover of adults; fins yellow to green; lining of gut cavity black.
Reaches 47 cm.
Coastal pelagic, enters freshwater and brackish water to spawn.
Depth range: 0-5 m.
Canada to Florida.

High Resolution Map Download
- Salinity
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- Brackish
- Freshwater
- Marine
- Inshore/Offshore
-
- Inshore
- Inshore Only
- Water Column Position
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- Mid Water
- Near Surface
- Surface
- Water column only
- Habitat
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- Water column
- Estuary
- Freshwater
- FishBase Habitat
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- Pelagic
- Feeding Group
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- Carnivore
- Data
- Planktivore
- Diet
-
- Data
- Zooplankton
- Bony fishes
- Insects
- Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
- Octopus/squid/cuttlefish
- Egg Type
-
- Data
- Pelagic
- Pelagic larva
- Global Endemism
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- All species
- Greater Caribbean non-endemic
- West Atlantic Endemic
- Regional Endemism
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- Continent
- Continent only
- Extends North of GC
- GC non-endemic
- All species
- Residency
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- Vagrant
- Climate Zone
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- Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
- Temperate (>35N)
- IUCN Red List
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- Listed
- Vulnerable
- CITES
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- Not listed
- Length Max
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- 47
- Depth Range Min
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- 0
- Depth Range Max
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- 5