Species: Alosa sapidissima, American Shad

jaw teeth minute/absent
gill rakers 59-73
Alosa sapidissima (Wilson, 1811)
American Shad
Deep bodied, moderately compressed; upper jaw with a distinct central notch into which the lower jaw fits; upper edge of lower jaw not rising steeply within mouth; lower jaw not projecting when mouth is closed; no or minute teeth at front of jaws; 59-73 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 blue-green with a metallic lustre, shading to silvery below; a dark spot behind gill cover of adults, sometimes followed by other spots or a second row of spots along side; fins pale green; tail tips sometimes dark.
Reaches 76 cm; IGFA record 5.1 kg.
Coastal pelagic, enters freshwater and brackishwater to spawn.
Depth range: 0-100 m.
Canada to Florida.

High Resolution Map Download
- Salinity
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- Brackish
- Freshwater
- Marine
- Inshore/Offshore
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- 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
- Omnivore
- Diet
-
- Data
- Zooplankton
- Bony fishes
- Insects
- Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
- Octopus/squid/cuttlefish
- Egg Type
-
- Benthic
- Data
- 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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- Least concern
- Listed
- CITES
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- Not listed
- Length Max
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- 76
- Depth Range Min
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- 0
- Depth Range Max
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- 100