Alosa braschnikowi and with varying gill raker numbers. The suggested subspecies include: Even "Alosa curensis" and "Alosa maeotica" have sometimes been listed as subspecies of "A. brashnikovi"; the latter is from the Pontic basin and now considered distinct (non-Caspian) species. Several further synonyms exist. Alosa braschnikowi Alosa braschnikowi, the Caspian marine shad or Brazhnikov's shad, is one of the clupeid fish species endemic to the Caspian Sea. This is a relatively large shad, typically 30 cm and up to 50 cm length. It also has a more "herring-like" body shape than other Caspian shad species, being a slender and elongate fish. It
Alosa Most individuals die shortly after spawning. "Alosa" species are seemingly very adaptive vertebrates, so can change readily to adapt to their environments, as species are found in a variety of temperatures and waters. As "Alosa" species are generally anadromous, they are faced with various obstacles to survival. They may have to pass through numerous barriers and waters to get to either their spawning grounds or normal habitats (the sea in most cases). Estuaries are a major factor in numerous "Alosa" species' migration. Estuaries can be highly variable and complex environments contributing to fluctuating biological interactions, with shifts in osomolarity, food