Kaspi allis shad

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Kaspi allis shad
Alosa caspia.jpg

Kaspi allis shad ( Alosa caspia )

Systematics
Order : Herring-like (Clupeiformes)
Subordination : Clupeoidei
Family : Herring (Clupeidae)
Subfamily : Alosinae
Genre : Alosa
Type : Kaspi allis shad
Scientific name
Alosa caspia
( Eichwald , 1803)

The Kaspi allis shad ( Alosa caspia ) is a migratory fish that occurs in the Black Sea , the Sea of ​​Azov , the Caspian Sea and in the rivers that flow into it. He belongs to the herring-like (Clupeiformes).

features

It has the typical, laterally flattened, slightly higher-backed shape of freshwater herrings and is a maximum of 32 cm long, but usually remains at a length of 20 cm. The body height can reach ¼ of the total length. The body is covered by relatively large round scales. The upper jaw is notched in the middle, the lower jaw extends to the back of the eye. The ploughshare is toothed. The jaw teeth are poorly developed and sometimes barely noticeable. The number of gill pelvis rays is 50 to 180. They are significantly longer than the gill filaments and thin.

The Kaspi allis shad is greenish to bluish on the back and silvery on the sides and belly. One to eight large, black spots appear behind the gill cover along the flanks.

Way of life

The Kaspi allis shad lives in schools and is an anadromous migratory fish. In the sea it lives pelagic in areas near the coast with good flow and avoids regions with consistently high salinity. To reproduce, it migrates into the rivers and spawns in fresh water or in slightly brackish water above three meters deep. Some of the subspecies also spawn in the sea in brackish or salt water. North of the Caspian Sea, the breeding season lasts from April to June. Males begin reproductive activities at 2 to 3 years of age, females at 4 to 5 years of age. Many spawn 2 to 4 times per season. The Caspi allis shad needs warmth. The spawning migration begins when the water temperature is above 10 ° C, spawning takes place at a temperature of 15 ° C and above.

In the sea, the Kaspi allis shad feeds on zooplankton ( copepods and mysids ).

Subspecies

  • Alosa caspia caspia (Eichwald, 1838)
  • Alosa caspia bulgarica Drensky, 1934
  • Alosa caspia knipowitschi (Ilyin, 1927)
  • Alosa caspia persica (Iljin, 1927)
  • Alosa caspia salina (Svetovidov, 1936)

literature

  • Fritz Terofal: Steinbach's natural guide, freshwater fish. Ulmer, Stuttgart 2003, ISBN 3-80014-296-1
  • Peter JP Whitehead: Clupeoid fishes of the world (Suborder Clupeoidei). An annotated and illustrated catalog of the herrings, sardines, pilchards, sprats, shads, anchovies, and wolf-herrings. Part 1. Chirocentridae, Clupeidae and Pristigasteridae. FAO Species Catalog for Fishery Purposes. No. 7th FAO Rome 2005. ( PDF )

Web links

Commons : Alosa caspia  - collection of images, videos and audio files