Shad & Herring
Gizzard Shad
Dorosoma cepedianum
FreshwaterClupeidaeLeast Concern
About
The Gizzard Shad is a silvery, deep-bodied fish characterized by a long, trailing dorsal fin ray and a gizzard-like stomach used for grinding food. They are schooling fish, often found in large numbers, and play a crucial role in the food web as a primary forage species.
- Average size
- 12-20 inches, up to 4 lbs
- Colors
- Silvery sides, bluish-gray back, dark spot behind the gill opening (fades with age)
- Diet
- Plankton, algae, detritus, and small invertebrates
- Region
- Eastern and Central United States, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast