Family: Clupdeidae - herrings

Distribution and Habitat

N=Native, I=Introduced (exotic), X=Extinct, P=Extirpated

Image/Link	Scientific Name	Common Name	Lake Superior	Lake Michigan	Lake Huron	Lake Erie	Lake Ontario	Habitat
	Alosa aestivalis	blueback herring					I
	Alosa pseudoharengus	alewife	I	I	I	I	N?	pelagic/euryhaline
	Alosa sapidissima	American shad					P	pelagic/euryhaline
	Dorosoma cepedianum	gizzard shad	N	N	N	N	N	pelagic/littoral/river

Table modified from "The Life of the Lakes: A Guide to the Great Lakes Fishery" MI Sea Grant Extension, Michigan State University - with additions from the Great Lakes Nonindigenous Species List.

? Whether alewife is native to Lake Ontario or invaded via canals or early stocking programs is not certain.

Species Profiles

Alosa aestivalis - blueback herring
Profile - Inland Fishes of New York Scientific Profile - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database Scientific Literature - Clearinghouse GLANSIS	First observed in Lake Ontario in 1873 - invaded via canals from the Atlantic. Difficult to distinguish from alewife - the most reliable identifying characteristic is the color of the tissue lining the body cavity, dark brown or blackish in the blueback herring and grey or silvery in the alewife. Bluebacks feed on plankton, various small floating animals, small fish fry, and fish eggs. Anadromous. Length to 40cm.
Inland Fishes of New York

Alosa sapidissima - American shad
Scientific Profile - U of MI Museum of Zoology	Formerly in Lake Ontario basin, once stocked in Lake Erie. Marine but ascending streams to spawn. Feed on plankton. Length to 35 cm.
University of Michigan Museum of Zoology	US Fish and Wildlife Service	The Virtual Aquarium at Virginia Tech

Indicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA website.
Indicates a link to a non-NOAA website or content not generated by NOAA. NOAA is not responsible for the accuracy of content. Please check Privacy and Use Policies of the destination site.
USE NOTICE