Shad & Herring
Alewife
Alosa pseudoharengus
BothClupeidaeLeast Concern
About
The alewife is a small, silvery fish with a single dorsal fin and a deeply forked tail. They are anadromous, meaning they migrate from saltwater to freshwater to spawn, although some populations are landlocked and complete their life cycle entirely in freshwater. They are schooling fish, often found in large numbers.
- Average size
- 6-10 inches
- Colors
- Silvery sides, bluish-green back, dark spot behind the gill cover
- Diet
- Zooplankton, small insects, and fish larvae
- Region
- Atlantic coast of North America, Great Lakes