| Family | Scientific Name | Author | Year | Common Name |
| Cluepeidae | Alosa pseudoharengus | (Wilson) | 1811 | Alewife |
Alosa pseudoharengus
Unique Characters: Upper jaw with deep median notch. Last dorsal-fin ray not filamentous. Predorsal scales along dorsal midline normal, not enlarged and fringed. Other scales with smooth posterior margins. 8 branched pelvic-fin rays. Peritoneum silvery to pale grey. Dorsum greyish green. Eye diameter greater than snout length.
Similar Species:
Blueback Herring Alosa aestivalis
Hickory Shad Alosa mediocris
American Shad Alosa sapidissima
Blueback Herring Alosa aestivalis. Upper jaw with deep median notch. Last dorsal-fin ray not filamentous. Predorsal scales along dorsal midline normal, not enlarged and fringed. Other scales with smooth posterior margins. 8 branched pelvic-fin rays. Lower jaw rising steeply within mouth. Peritoneum sooty or black. Dorsum distinctly blue. Eye diameter less than snout length.
Hickory Shad Alosa mediocris. Upper jaw with deep median notch. Last dorsal-fin ray not filamentous. Predorsal scales along dorsal midline normal, not enlarged and fringed. Other scales with smooth posterior margins. 8 branched pelvic-fin rays. Lower jaw not rising steeply within mouth. Jaw teeth present. Gill rakers on lower limb of anterior arch less than 25. Lower jaw projecting beyond upper when mouth closed.
American Shad Alosa sapidissima. Upper jaw with deep median notch. Last dorsal-fin ray not filamentous. Predorsal scales along dorsal midline normal, not enlarged and fringed. Other scales with smooth posterior margins. 8 branched pelvic-fin rays. Lower jaw not rising steeply within mouth. Jaw teeth minute or absent in adults. Gill rakers on lower limb of anterior arch more than 30. Lower jaw not projecting beyond upper when mouth closed.
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