Alosa Linck, 1790
Moderate to large herring-like fishes (to 60 cm), somewhat compressed, the belly with a fairly prominent keel of scutes. Upper jaw not evenly rounded in front, but with a distinct notch into which the symphysis of the lower jaw fits. Often a dark spot posterior to gill opening and in some species a number of similar spots down flank (or even one or two rows below this).
Marine pelagic, estuarine or freshwater (rivers and lakes); anadromous, semi-anadromous or purely freshwater species, subspecies or forms; shoaling, migratory except where landlocked. Feeding on small fishes, crustaceans, also phytoplankton in some cases.
Species about 14; in Clofnam area 4.
Recent revisions: Svetovidov (1952—in Russian; 1963—English translation).
Species of this genus in the program:
Alosa alosa
Alosa caspia
Alosa fallax
Alosa pontica