Twait shad are silvery, sometimes with a bronzy tinge, and there are a distinctive row of six to ten large dark spot just behind the gill cover though these may fade when the fish is dead. The adult length is typically . The twait shad is found in most of Europe and all countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. "Alosa fallax" has a similar lifecycle to "A. alosa" (allis shad). They are known to live in sympatry. Some studies have suggested "A. fallax" and "A. alosa" species can hybridize. They are anadromous species, like many other species in the genus "Alosa". However, some
Pickled herring fur coat'), which are usually prepared with vegetables and seasoned with mayonnaise dressing. Brined herring is common in Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine, perhaps best known for vorschmack salad known in English simply as "chopped herring" and as schmaltz herring in Yiddish. In Israel it is commonly known as "dag maluach" which means "salted fish". Pickled herring can also be found in the cuisine of Hokkaidō in Japan, where families traditionally preserved large quantities for winter. In Nova Scotia, Canada, pickled herring with onions is called "solomon gundy" and is quite popular. (Not to be confused with the Jamaican pickled fish pâté