American shad is an anadromous, migratory species found along the atlantic coast of north america from newfoundland to florida These fish “hear” better than other fish They have fine sensory hairs in their otoliths (similar to the ear bone), a network of water filled channels in their heads, and a swim bladder that extends up into their brain Together, these unique features allow the. The american shad is a schooling fish found in very deep coastal waters, sometimes almost a mile down and grow to about 20 inches, but can be up to 30 inches and weigh up to 12 pounds. American shad play an important ecological role in freshwater, estuarine, and marine environments during its anadromous life cycle
Once in the ocean, american shad are preyed upon by many species including sharks, tunas, king mackerel, seals, and porpoises They are also a seasonally important prey species for a number of fish, birds, and wildlife species, with the adult spawning american. 🐟 habitat preferences • american shad are schooling fish, traveling along coastal areas until they reach maturity • they prefer deeper waters during the winter, moving to rivers and shallower areas for spawning • shad are found in both brackish and freshwater environments during different life stages The author holding a healthy female american shad caught near sacramento, california the sacramento river and its tributaries host what appears to be a very consistent and relatively large population of adult american shad, while fish species like striped bass and delta smelt have declined over the last 40 years.
Overview native to atlantic slope basins, american shad are an anadromous species, meaning that they spend the majority of their adult life in the ocean and only enter freshwater in the spring to spawn.
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