Alosa chrysochloris
(Rafinesque 1820)
Family Clupeidae

Lateral view of a skipjack herring
The skipjack herring pictured above was collected in LaSalle County, Illinois. Photo courtesy of Uland Thomas

The skipjack herring is a member of the herring family, and has a lower jaw that projects beyond the snout and between 20 and 24 rakers on the lower limb of the first gill arch. These herrings live in sand and gravel runs of medium to large rivers, and can be found in large reservoirs. This species occasionally enters brackish environments.

Status & distribution

  • Status — Native freshwater
  • Florida Distribution — Western and North Central and Peninsula drainages
  • River Drainages — Perdido River, Escambia River, Yellow River, Choctawhatchee River, Apalachicola River and the Suwannee River
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