Distinguishing Characteristics |
Body moderately deep, compressed; color green-blue-black above, white below, faint spot behind opercle; fins dusky in adults; snout rounded, blunt; mouth subterminal, has frontal notch in upper jaw; belly with serrated keel; no enlarged scales on back in front of dorsal fin; last dorsal ray elongated, filamentous; shoulder inside opercle with no lobes. |
Similar Species |
Gizzard shad, threadfin shad and Atlantic thread herring are the only herrings (off Texas) where the last dorsal ray is elongated and filamentous; gizzard shad is the only 1 with a subterminal mouth and frontal notch on upper jaw, also has no lobes on shoulder under opercle. |
Habitat |
Freshwater and low salinities in bays |
Maximum Size |
60 cm (23 1/2 in), common to 40 cm (15 1/2 in) |
Fin Element Counts |
D. 10-13; A. 25-36 (explain) |
Other Common Names |
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Previous Scientific Names |
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Comments |
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State size/bag limits |
None; Check for state record. |