Clupeidae
(incl. Dussumieridae)
by P. J. P. Whitehead
Small or moderate-sized silvery fishes with no spiny finrays and a single short dorsal fin; no adipose fin behind it. Belly with a keel of sharp scutes (absent in Dussumieria and Spratelloides in Clofnam area). Caudal fin forked. Scales present, often easily shed; no lateral line.
Most species coastal, pelagic, often forming large shoals of great fishery importance; some species enter brackish or freshwater and the shads are anadromous (but a few species, subspecies or forms entirely freshwater).
Genera 64; in Clofnam area 9.
Recent revisions: Svetovidov (1952—in Russian; 1963—English translation).