American Shad

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The American shad (Alosa sapidissima) is an anadromous fish native to the North American Atlantic coast from Newfoundland to Florida. They are easily identified by their iridescent silver coloration, laterally compressed body, and distinctive ventral keel (a ridge along their belly). They have a poorly developed lateral line and may display up to six dark spots behind their operculum (gill cover) and are one of the larger members of the herring family. American shad spend most of their lives in the Atlantic Ocean where they exhibit strong schooling behavior and primarily feed on plankton, small shrimp, and fish eggs. They migrate to freshwater rivers to spawn, preferring warmer water temperatures for reproduction and sandy or pebbly shallows to lay their eggs. Due to extensive dam construction in the 19th and 20th centuries, much of the species’ historical spawning range has been severely restricted, leading to significant population declines. In the early 1800s, American shad were introduced to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River system in California and have expanded throughout the West Coast’s river systems, raising concerns about competition with native fish species.

Fun fact: American shad are more closely related to their European shad ancestors than other North American shad species and have better hearing than many other fishes.