Blueback shad (Alosa aestivalis)

Scientific name: Alosa aestivalis Mitchill, 1814

Blueback shad (Alosa aestivalis)

The Blueback shad (Alosa aestivalis) is a freshwater fish of the family Clupeidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia south to the St. John's River, Florida; also in lower parts of rivers.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-20; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 15 - 21; Vertebrae: 47 - 53. Moderately compressed, belly with distinct keel of scutes. Upper jaw with a distinct notch; lower jaw rising steeply within mouth; minute teeth present at front of jaws (disappearing with age). Lower gill rakers 41 to 52 (fewer in fishes under 10 cm standard length), slender. Back dark blue, sometimes bluish-grey; a dark spot on shoulder. Peritoneum black. Branchiostegal rays 7.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Alosa aestivalis
Family
Clupeidae (Herrings, shads and sardines)
Order
Clupeiformes (Herrings)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
40.0
Common length
27.5
Depth range
5–55 m (16–180 ft)
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; pelagic-neritic; anadromous; depth range 5 - 55 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Cape Breton, Nova Scotia south to the St. John's River, Florida; also in lower parts of rivers.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.18; tm=4; Fec=45,800)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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