Teleostei (teleosts) >
Clupeiformes (Herrings) >
Alosidae (Shads and Sardines)
Etymology: Alosa: Latin, alausa = a fish cited by Ausonius and Latin, halec = pickle, dealing with the Greek word hals = salt; it is also the old Saxon name for shad = "alli" ; 1591 (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; pelagic; non-migratory. Temperate; 47°N - 45°N, 8°E - 11°E
Europe: Lakes Como, Garda, Orta, Maggiore, Lugano and Iseo (northern Italy, Switzerland). Introduced in Lakes Bolsena, Bracciano and Vico (central Italy).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 42.6 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 59118); max. published weight: 760.00 g (Ref. 40637)
This species is distinguished from its congeners entering the freshwater of the Mediterranean basin by the following characters: an almost straight dorsal profile; thin gill rakers 38-72 (different populations average between 45 and 64); no teeth on palatine (Ref. 59043).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.
A lacustrine, pelagic species. Males reproduce for the first time at 2-3 years, females at 3-4; most reproduce only once or twice. Spawn at temperatures above 15-16°C in June to August, along the shores near the surface at night with bright moonlights. Adults feed mainly on cladocerans and copepods, also on small fish (Ref. 59043).
Most individuals reproduce only once or twice.
Kottelat, M. and J. Freyhof, 2007. Handbook of European freshwater fishes. Publications Kottelat, Cornol and Freyhof, Berlin. 646 pp. (Ref. 59043)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
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