Dorosoma chavesi Meek, 1907
Nicaragua gizzard shad
photo by FAO

Family:  Dorosomatidae (Gizzard shads and sardinellas)
Max. size:  18 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  Central America: Nicaragua (lakes Managua and Nicaragua and affluent streams or rivers) and Costa Rica.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 24-30. Body moderately deep; belly with 15 to 18 + 9 to 12 scutes. Mouth relatively large; lower jaw comparatively long, upper jaw reaching to vertical from eye center. Last dorsal fin ray long, but less than distance from snout tip to pelvic fin base; anal fin moderately long. Scales small, somewhat irregular. A dark spot behind gill opening. Gill rakers fine and numerous.
Biology:  Occurs in rivers and lakes. A filter-feeder, its feeding and breeding habits presumably similar to other Dorosoma species. More data needed.
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 28 February 2017 (B1ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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