TheAlosidae, or theshads,[2][3][4] are afamily ofclupeiform fishes. The family currently comprises four genera worldwide, and about 32 species.[5]
The shads arepelagic (open water) schooling fish, of which many areanadromous or even landlocked. Several species are of commercial importance, e.g. in the genusAlosa (river herrings),Brevoortia (menhadens), andSardina. The Alosidae were previously included in the herring familyClupeidae.
?†PugliaclupeaTaverne, 2004 (Late Cretaceous of Italy)
†SanalosaBienkowska-Wasiluk, Granica & Kovalchuk, 2024 (Oligocene of Poland)[9]
The oldest member of the group isPugliaclupea from theCampanian of Italy, but its placement in the Alosidae appears to be on weak grounds. Otherwise, all other members of the family are only known from the Eocene onwards.[7] There appears to have been a significant center ofendemism for the alosids and other clupeoids in theParatethys.[8] The freshwater †Chasmoclupea from theOligocene of Egypt may also be related to the Alosidae.[10]
