Alabama shad

Alosa alabamae

From the Gulf into Mississippi river networks

Tropical
Regional distribution
Atlantic Ocean
North America
Fusiform
Compressed cross-section
Large
Tropical fish

The Alabama shad (Alosa alabamae) is an anadromous species of alosid fish endemic to the United States where it breeds in medium to large flowing rivers from the Mississippi River drainage to the Suwannee River, Florida, as well as some other Gulf coast drainages. The biology of this fish is little known but it has become increasingly rare. The International Union for Conservation of Nature rated it "near threatened" in 2020 and the United States National Marine Fisheries Service has listed it as a Species of Concern.

Class: Teleosts
Order: Herrings
Family: Alosidae
Genus: Alosa
Maximum length: 51 cm
Body shape: fusiform
Distribution: Western Central Atlantic: Gulf of Mexico (northern part, from the Mississippi delta eastward to the Choctawhatchee River in Florida; also in rivers from Iowa to Arkansas and across to West Virginia). Status of threat from Ref. 11858 .
Conservation status: NTNear Threatened

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