Distribution:
Worldwide, mostly tropical, but found between 70°N and 60°S, primarily marine, although some occur in freshwater or are anadromous.
Habitat:
Most species in coastal waters, usually swimming near the surface.
Remarks:
Many members of the family Clupeidae, also called herrings, shads, sardines and menhadens, are valuable commercial fishes. Most form schools and swim near the surface where they feed on plankton.
The mouth usually is terminal to superior with small teeth or no teeth. Body shape is variable, ranging from fusiform (common) to strongly compressed. Abdominal scutes are usually present, and there are two long postcleithra (dermal bones) in most species. Dorsal and pelvic fins are absent in some species, and where present, they consist of soft rays only. In members of this family the swim bladder has a posterior opening to the exterior near the anus, through which gas may be voided.
This family consists of six subfamilies, about 57 genera and 188 species.
References:
Munroe et al., pp. 1775-1821, in: Carpenter & Niem 1999;
Nelson 2006