Dorosoma smithi Hubbs & Miller, 1941
Pacific gizzard shad
photo by The Native Fish Conservancy

Family:  Dorosomatidae (Gizzard shads and sardinellas)
Max. size:  14 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  North America: Pacific drainage of northwestern Mexico (Río Piaxtla, Río del Fuerte, Río Sinaloa system, Río de Mocorito, Río Muerto, Río Yaqui system, i.e. between Sinaloa and Sonora).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 22-29. Body moderately deep; belly with 15 to 18 + 9 to 12 scutes. Mouth small. Last dorsal fin ray long, but less the distance from snout tip to pelvic fin base; anal fin relatively short. Scales somewhat small, somewhat irregular. A dark spot behind gill opening. Distinguished from Opisthonema species by its anal fin which is longer than head and well behind dorsal fin base.
Biology:  Occurs in rivers and perhaps in lakes. A filter-feeder, its feeding and breeding habits presumably similar to other Dorosoma species. More data needed.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 06 July 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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