Max Size: 25-60cm (10 in – 2 ft.) – varies widely by species
Habitat: Open ocean to freshwater rivers
Diet: Plankton, small crustaceans and fish eggs
Species:
Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)
American Shad (Alosa sapidissima)
Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus)
Fun Facts:
- Anadromous; swimming upstream to spawn around May-June in massive schools historically up to 30 miles in breadth
- Filter feeders, using their gill rakers and arches to capture plankton as they breathe
- The Shadberry bush is named after the fish due to the synchronicity of the Shad run and the fruiting of the bush