Family Clupeidae

Herrings

Selected Characters: Jaws even or lower jaw projecting beyond upper; body compressed; one dorsal fin, no adipose fin; no lateral line; no fin spines.

This is a large family of schooling fishes which are mostly marine, with some species freshwater or anadromous. Clupeids are found virtually worldwide, though the largest number of species is found in the tropics. Herrings often school near the surface in coastal waters, usually feeding on plankton. Important commercial fisheries are associated with some members of this family, and herrings have vast importance as prey of marine mammals, birds, and fishes, including commercially harvested species. Of the 181 species in this family, three are found in Puget Sound. This family is common here.

Puget Sound Species

Alosa sapidissima American Shad

Clupea pallasii Pacific Herring

Sardinops sagax Pacific Sardine