Dorosomatidae
Dorosomatidae is a family of ray-finned fishes in the order Clupeiformes. They are small, silvery fish that are commonly called gizzard shad, threadfin shad, and skipjack herring. Dorosomatidae are found in freshwater and brackish water habitats in North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
Characteristics
Dorosomatidae have several distinguishing characteristics. They have a compressed, fusiform body shape with a deeply forked tail. They have a single dorsal fin that is located far back on the body, and they lack lateral lines. Dorosomatidae have a large mouth that is positioned at the end of the snout. Their teeth are small and they lack a swim bladder. They are filter feeders, using gill rakers to strain plankton from the water. Dorosomatidae are typically silvery in color, with dark backs and white bellies.
Environment
Dorosomatidae are found in a wide range of freshwater and brackish water habitats, including rivers, lakes, estuaries, and coastal waters. They are typically found in warm waters, but some species can tolerate cooler temperatures. Dorosomatidae are an important part of the food chain, serving as prey for larger fish, birds, and mammals.
Common Names
Common names for Dorosomatidae include:
- Gizzard shad
- Threadfin shad
- Skipjack herring
Genera
The Dorosomatidae family contains the following genera:
- Dorosoma
- Hilsa
- Konosirus
- Opisthopterus
- Raconda
- Sardinella
- Sierrathrissa
- Thrissocles