Alosa sphaerocephala

Description

Alosa sphaerocephala, or the Agrakhan shad, is a species of clupeid (herring-like) fish, one of the endemic shad species in the Caspian Sea. It spawns in shallow waters (about 3 m) of the northeastern part of the Caspian Sea, in salinities of 8-10 ppt. It does not enter fresh water. Spawning takes place in temperatures of 18-20 °C, from mid-May to end of June, and the young move southward relatively late in the autumn season.