Alosa

/əˈloʊ.sə/ noun

Definition

A genus of fish in the herring family that includes shad and are known for migrating between fresh and salt water.

Etymology

From Latin 'alosa,' the classical Roman name for shad. The etymology pre-dates modern science and may derive from Celtic or regional European languages for fish.

Kelly Says

Shad are anadromous fish—they're born in rivers, migrate to the ocean to grow, then return inland to spawn. Romans ate them 2,000 years ago, and the scientific name has survived almost unchanged since Pliny the Elder's time.

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