Threadfin shad

Threadfin shad
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Clupeiformes
Family:	Dorosomatidae
Genus:	Dorosoma
Species:	D. petenense
Binomial name
Dorosoma petenense (Günther, 1867)
Synonyms[2]
Chatoessus mexicanus Günther, 1868 Dorosoma petenense subsp. vanhyningi (Weed, 1925) Meletta petenensis Günther, 1867 Signalosa atchafalayae Evermann & Kendall, 1898 Signalosa atchafalayae subsp. vanhyningi Weed, 1925 Signalosa mexicana Günther, 1868 Signalosa mexicana subsp. campi Weed, 1925

The threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense) is a small pelagic freshwater forage fish common in lakes, large streams and reservoirs of the Southeastern United States. Like the American gizzard shad, the threadfin shad has an elongated dorsal fin, but unlike the gizzard shad, its mouth is more terminal without a projecting upper jaw. The fins of threadfin shad often have a yellowish color, especially the caudal fin. The back is grey to blue with a dark spot on the shoulder. D. petenense is more often found in moving water, and is rarely found deep in the water column. It occurs in large schools, sometimes with gizzard shad, and can be seen on the surface at dawn and dusk. The threadfin shad may reach lengths of 8 in (200 mm), but only rarely. This fish is very sensitive to changes in temperature and dissolved oxygen, and die-offs are frequent in late summer and fall, especially when water temperature drops to 42 °F. The threadfin shad is a favorite food for many game fishes, including striped bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and catfish. This fish is widely introduced throughout the United States as a forage for game fish.