Distinguishing Characteristics |
Body moderately elongate, compressed; color green-blue above, sides and belly silvery, faint spot behind opercle; dorsal and caudal fins yellowish with dusky tips; typical herring mouth (short, deep lower jaw hidden by wide rounded upper jaw); belly with serrated keel; no frontal notch in upper jaw; no enlarged scales on back in front of dorsal fin; last dorsal ray elongated, filamentous; shoulder inside opercle with no lobes. |
Similar Species |
Threadfin shad, gizzard shad and Atlantic thread herring are the only herrings (off Texas) where the last dorsal ray is elongated and filamentous; threadfin shad has a terminal mouth (subterminal in gizzard shad), no frontal notch on upper jaw as in gizzard shad, also has no lobes on shoulder under opercle as in the Atlantic thread herring. |
Habitat |
Freshwater and low salinities in bays |
Maximum Size |
25 cm (10 in), common to 16.5 cm (6 1/2 in) |
Fin Element Counts |
D. 11-14; A. 17-27 (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. |