Alosa agone (Scopoli, 1786)
Agone
Alosa agone
photo by Caramori, G.

Family:  Alosidae (Shads and Sardines)
Max. size:  42.6 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 760.0 g
Environment:  pelagic; freshwater, non-migratory
Distribution:  Europe: Lakes Como, Garda, Orta, Maggiore, Lugano and Iseo (northern Italy, Switzerland). Introduced in Lakes Bolsena, Bracciano and Vico (central Italy).
Diagnosis:  This species is distinguished from its congeners entering the freshwater of the Mediterranean basin by the following characters: an almost straight dorsal profile; thin gill rakers 38-72 (different populations average between 45 and 64); no teeth on palatine (Ref. 59043).
Biology:  A lacustrine, pelagic species. Males reproduce for the first time at 2-3 years, females at 3-4; most reproduce only once or twice. Spawn at temperatures above 15-16°C in June to August, along the shores near the surface at night with bright moonlights. Adults feed mainly on cladocerans and copepods, also on small fish (Ref. 59043).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 January 2008 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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