Shad 1273759 214423223 2008-05-23T14:15:25Z 125.2.181.27 {{otheruses4||the Canadian hip hop musician|Shad (rapper)}} {{otheruses4||the American pro wrestler|Shad Gaspard}} {{Taxobox | name = Shads | fossil_range = [[Eocene]] to Present<ref>{{cite journal | last = Sepkoski | first = Jack | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = A compendium of fossil marine animal genera | journal = Bulletins of American Paleontology | volume = 364 | issue = | pages = p.560 | publisher = | location = | date = 2002 | url = http://strata.ummp.lsa.umich.edu/jack/showgenera.php?taxon=611&rank=class | doi = | id = | accessdate = 2007-12-31 }}</ref> | image = Alosa fallax.png | image_width = 240px | image_caption = [[Twaite shad]], ''[[Alosa fallax]]'' | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordata]] | classis = [[Actinopterygii]] | ordo = [[Clupeiformes]] | familia = [[Clupeidae]] | genus = '''''Alosa''''' | genus_authority = Linck, [[1790]] | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = About 15-20, see text. | synonyms= ''Caspialosa''<br/> ''Pomolobus'' }} [[Image:Shadbake at Chester, Connecticut 1990.jpg|thumb|242px|right|1990 shadbake at [[Chester, Connecticut]].]] The '''shads''' or '''river herrings''' comprise the [[genus]] '''''Alosa''''', [[fish]]es related to [[herring]] in the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Clupeidae]]. They are distinct from others in that family by having a deeper body and spawning in rivers. The several species frequent different areas on both sides of the [[Atlantic Ocean]] and in the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. The shad fry live for a year or two in [[fresh water]]. The [[American shad|American or Atlantic shad]] (''A. sapidissima'') is a valued food fish. It was especially important in the 1700s; however, many of the rivers where it was common now suffer from [[pollution]]. Traditionally it was caught along with [[salmon]] in set nets which were suspended from poles driven into the river bed reasonably close to shore in [[tidal]] water. It weighs between 3 and 8 [[pound (mass)|pounds]] and has a delicate flavour when cooked. Though bony, it is worth the effort, and indeed many esteem it above the famous [[Atlantic salmon]]. It is considered flavourful enough to not require sauces, herbs or spices. It can be boiled, [[Fillet (cut)|fillet]]ed and fried in butter or baked. Traditionally a little [[vinegar]] is sprinkled over it on the plate. In the eastern United States [[roe]] shad (females) are prized because the eggs are considered a delicacy. Shad serve a peculiar symbolic role in [[Virginia]] state politics. On the year of every gubernatorial election, would-be candidates, lobbyists, campaign workers, and reporters gather in the town of [[Wakefield, Virginia]] for [[Shad Planking]]. American shad served as the focal point of [[John McPhee]]'s book ''The Founding Fish''. ==Biology== Shads are unique among the fishes in having evolved an ability to detect [[ultrasound]] (sound at frequencies above 20 kHz, which is the limit of human hearing). This was first discovered by fisheries biologists studying [[blueback herring]], and was later verified in laboratory studies of hearing in American shad. This ability is thought to help them avoid [[dolphins]] that find prey using echolocation. ==Systematics == Systematics of shads are extremely complex. The genus inhabits a wide range of [[habitat]]s, and many [[taxa]] are [[Fish migration|migratory]]. There are also a few land-locked forms, one from [[Killarney]] in [[Ireland]] and two from lakes in northern Italy. There are species native to the [[Black Sea]] and [[Caspian Sea]], as well as the [[Persian Gulf]]. [[morphology (biology)|Morphology]] is notoriously liable to [[adaptation (biology)|adapt]] to changing food availability in these fish. Several taxa seem to have [[evolve]]d quite recently, making molecular analyses difficult. In addition, it appears as if [[Hybrid (biology)|hybridization]] is a factor to be reckoned when researching shad [[phylogeny]].(Faria ''et al.'' 2006) Nonetheless, some trends are emerging. The North American species except the Atlantic shad can probably be separated in a [[subgenus]] (or even genus) ''Pomolobus''. On the other hand, the proposed genus (or subgenus) ''Caspialosa'' for the [[Caspian Sea]] forms is rejected due to [[paraphyly]].(Faria ''et al.'' 2006) * [[Blueback herring]], ''[[Alosa aestivalis]]'' * [[Agone]], ''[[Alosa agone]]'' * [[Alabama shad]], ''[[Alosa alabamae]]'' * [[Allis shad]], ''[[Alosa alosa]]'' * [[Caspian marine shad]], ''[[Alosa brashnikovi]]'' * ''[[Alosa caspia]]'' ** Caspian shad, ''Alosa caspia caspia'' ** Enzeli shad, ''Alosa caspia knipowitschi'' ** Astrabad shad, ''Alosa caspia persica'' * [[Skipjack shad]], ''Alosa chrysochloris'' * [[Twaite shad]], ''[[Alosa fallax]]'' ** Mediterranean shad, ''Alosa fallax nilotica'' * [[Pontic shad]], ''[[Alosa immaculata]]'' - sometimes ''A. pontica'' ** [[Caspian anadromous shad]], ''Alosa (immaculata) kessleri'' * [[Macedonian shad]], ''[[Alosa macedonica]]'' * [[Black Sea shad]], ''[[Alosa maeotica]]'' * [[Hickory shad]], ''[[Alosa mediocris]]'' * [[Alewife]], ''Alosa pseudoharengus'' * [[American shad|American]] or Atlantic shad, ''Alosa sapidissima'' * [[Saposhnikovi shad]], ''[[Alosa saposchnikowii]]'' * [[Agrakhan shad]], ''[[Alosa sphaerocephala]]'' * [[Azov shad]], ''[[Alosa tanaica]]'' * ''[[Alosa tenualosa]]'' ** [[Persian Gulf shad]], ''Alosa tenualosa ilisha'' * [[Greek shad]], ''[[Alosa vistonica]]'' ==References== {{reflist}} * {{aut|Faria, R.; Weiss, S. & Alexandrino, P.}} (2006): A molecular phylogenetic perspective on the evolutionary history of ''Alosa'' spp. (Clupeidae). ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' '''40'''(1): 298–304. <small>{{doi|10.1016/j.ympev.2006.02.008}}</small> (HTML abstract) *''The Founding Fish'' (2002) ISBN 0-374-10444-1 == External links == * [http://yorkstaters.blogspot.com/2006/05/taste-of-region-8-shad.html Tastes of the Region: Shad] An article celebrating shad's cultural importance to the Hudson Valley * [http://www.newhopepennsylvania.com/facesandplaces/shadfest2007-04-07.htm Lambertville NJ Shad Festival] *[http://sciencecheerleader.com/2008/04/shad_philadelphias_fish_a_case_study/ Science Cheerleader - Shad: Our Pollution vs. Their Resolution.] Nick Taylor & Chris Longmire are two of the most famous shad fishers, both residing in the Annapolis county of Nova Scotia [[Category:Clupeidae]] [[Category:Commercial fish]] [[de:Alosa]] [[es:Alosa]] [[fr:Alose]] [[it:Alosa]] [[nl:Elft]] [[ja:アロサ]] [[sv:Majfisk]] [[pl: Aloza]] [[lt:Alsė]] [[zh:美洲鲥]]