Alosa agone

Alosa agone is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Alosa.[1] It is an endangered species.[2]

Alosa agone
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Clupeiformes
Family:	Clupeidae
Genus:	Alosa
Species:	A. agone
Binomial name
Alosa agone (Scopoli, 1786)

Species description

Alosa agone are common in the Mediterranean and the western Balkans.[2] There are also landlocked populations found in Italy.[2] The distribution of reproductive communities and the conservation status of Alosa agone in the central and eastern parts of the Mediterranean areas are poorly known.[2]

Conservation

The numbers of Alosa agone have declined due to barriers such as dams in their local areas.[2] These barriers prevent them from getting upstream to their spawning grounds and reproducing.[2] Improved water quality in some landlocked lakes have increased their numbers in recent years.[2]

Biology

The "twaite shad" are known to be very adaptive and variable as they form landlocked populations in Italy and its neighboring areas, including the western Balkans.[2] They can modify their morphology and biology according to their environment.[2] Therefore, Alosa agone, just like many Alosa species, can be either marine or freshwater fish.

References

1. Freyhof, J. & Kottelat, M. 2008. Alosa agone. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 16 December 2011.
2. Bianco, P. G. (2002), The Status of the Twaite Shad, Alosa agone, in Italy and the Western Balkans. Marine Ecology, 23: pp. 51–64. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0485.2002.tb00007.x