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Photo credit: Jim Negus, TN Wildlife Resources |
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| Blueback herring are a medium-sized, relatively deep-bodied fish. It is grayish green on its back and is silvery on its belly and sides. Blueback herring are distinguished from other Atlantic herring by differences in body depth, origin of the dorsal fin, coloration patterns, and markings on the underside. They also appear similar to young American shad, although there are differences in jaw shape, body shape, and numbers of gill rakers. Blueback herring are similar in appearance to alewife. However, they can be distinguished by differences in eye size, body depth, and the color of the peritoneum which is the abdominal cavity membrane. |
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| Learn More... |
- Conservation Notes: This section includes information on threats to this species, its importance to humans and estuaries and how you can help to protect this species
- Profile: This section includes biological and life history information such as the species description, relatives, size/weight, diet, reproduction information, habitat and range.
- References: This section includes the list of articles and books cited in the information about the species.
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Did you know? The number of times a Blueback herring has spawned is recorded on its scales. |
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Type: Fish |
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Diet: Juveniles feed on zooplankton. Adults feed on small fish. |
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Average lifespan in the wild: 10 years |
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Size: 16 inches maximum |
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Weight: 4 lb maximum |
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Found in the following NERRS Estuarine Reserves: Wells (ME), Great Bay (NH), Waiquoit Bay (MA), Narragansett Bay (RI), Hudson River (NY), Jacques Cousteau (NJ), Delaware, Chesapeake Bay (MD and VA), North Carolina, North Inlet-Winyah Bay (SC), ACE Basin (SC), Sapelo Island (GA) and Guano Tolomato Matanzas (FL) |
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Threats: |
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- Dams blocking access to habitat
- Habitat degradation
- Overharvesting of fisheries
- Losses due to bycatch
- Predation by striped bass
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Click map for larger image |
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