Alosa alosa (Linnaeus, 1758)

Allis shad

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Clupeiformes \| Clupeidae
Synonyms	Clupea alosa, Alosa alosa alosa, Alausa vulgaris, ... more
Common names	Sábalo común, Mayfish, Shad, ... more

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Alosa alosa

Picture by Meyer, T.

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AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

Main reference

Whitehead, P.J.P. 1985. (Ref. 188)
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Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 83.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 7047); common length : 40.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2945); max. published weight: 4,000 g (Ref. 30578); max. reported age: 10 years (Ref. 10536)

Length at first maturity

L_m 48.1, range 45 - 50 cm

Environment

Pelagic-neritic; anadromous (Ref. 51243); freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 5 - ? m

Climate / Range

Temperate; 61°N - 20°N, 17°W - 22°E

Eastern Atlantic: from Bergen (Norway) along the coasts of Europe to northern Mauritania in Africa (Ref. 188, Ref. 51442). Also in western part of Mediterranean Sea (Ref. 188). Reported from the western part of the Baltic Sea up to the Kaliningrad Oblast (Ref. 12801, 26334). Appendix III of the Bern Convention (protected fauna).
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 4 - 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 18; Anal spines: 3 - 4; Anal soft rays: 18 - 24; Vertebrae: 57 - 58. Body somewhat compressed, fairly deep with depth at pectoral fin more than head length (Ref. 188, Ref. 51442). Upper jaw notched, lower jaw fitting into it (Ref. 188). Gill rakers long, thin and numerous, total 85 to 130, longer than gill filaments (Ref. 188). Large, thin scales (Ref. 51442). Presence of abdominal scutes (Ref. 51442). A dark spot posterior to gill opening (sometimes absent; occasionally 1 or 2 more spots) (Ref. 188).

Amphihaline species, spending most of its life in sea (Ref. 51442). Schooling and strongly migratory species, penetrating far up rivers, but not into small tributaries (Ref. 188). Enters rivers to spawn in May, usually at night and where the current is swift (Ref. 188). Migrating adults do not feed (Ref. 30578). Adults return to sea after spawning while the juveniles move down to the sea in autumn (Ref. 188). Feeds on a wide range of planktonic crustaceans; larger adults feed on small schooling fishes (Ref. 188, Ref. 51442). Less common than Alosa fallax but both have suffered from pollution and weirs or other obstructions (Ref. 188). Marketed fresh and frozen; eaten sautéed, broiled, fried and baked (Ref. 9988).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Least Concern (LC)	Harmless

Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes


More information
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