The Alosinae, or the shads,
[Alosinae]
ITIS are a
subfamily
In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classifica ...
of fishes in the
herring family
Clupeidae
Clupeidae is a family of ray-finned fishes, comprising, for instance, the herrings, shads, sardines, hilsa, and menhadens. The clupeoids include many of the most important food fishes in the world, and are also commonly caught for producti ...
. The subfamily comprises seven genera worldwide, and about 30 species.
Distribution of shad species
, The Shad Foundation homepage[
The shads are ]pelagic
The pelagic zone consists of the water column of the open ocean, and can be further divided into regions by depth (as illustrated on the right). The word ''pelagic'' is derived . The pelagic zone can be thought of as an imaginary cylinder or w ...
(open water) schooling fish, of which many are anadromous or even landlocked. Several species are of commercial importance, e.g. in the genus '' Alosa'' (river herrings), '' Brevoortia'' (menhadens), and ''Hilsa
The ilish (''Tenualosa ilisha'') ( bn, ইলিশ, translit=iliś; also known as the ilishi, hilsa, hilsa herring or hilsa shad, is a species of fish related to the herring, in the family Clupeidae. It is a very popular and sought-after food ...
''.
See also
* The Shad Foundation
* Shad Planking, a Virginia political gathering featuring the consumption of American shad
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2650600
Ray-finned fish subfamilies