Distribution:

Coasts of Europe, from about Bergen to northern Mauritania. Reported from the western part of the Baltic Sea up to the Kaliningrad Oblast. Appendix III of the Bern Convention (protected fauna).

Diagnosis:

Dorsal spines (total): 4-5; Dorsal softrays (total): 14-17; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft-rays: 20-24; Vertebrates: 57-58. Body somewhat compressed, fairly deep (depth at pectoral fin more than head length). Upper jaw notched, lower jaw fitting into it. Gill rakers long, thin and numerous, total 85 to 130, longer than gill filaments. A dark spot posterior to gill opening (sometimes absent; occasionally 1 or 2 more spots). Resembles A. fallax which has 7 or 8 spots along flank.

Biology:

A schooling species, penetrating far up rivers (but not into small tributaries). Enters rivers to spawn in May, usually at night and where the current is swift. Migrating adults do not feed. Adults return to sea after spawning while the juveniles move down to the sea in autumn. Feeds on a wide range of planktonic crustaceans; larger adults feed on small schooling fishes. Less common than A. fallax but both have suffered from pollution and weirs or other obstructions. Marketed fresh and frozen; eaten sautéed, broiled, fried and baked.

Max. size: 83.0 cm

Max.weight: 4,000.0 g

Environment: pelagic; depth range - 5 m

Climate: temperate; 61°N - 20°N

Canary Islands country information:[ No common name ]