Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: HERRING, SKIPJACK

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: OSTEICHTHYES

Order: CLUPEIFORMES

Family: CLUPEIDAE

Genus: ALOSA

Species: CHRYSOCHLORIS

Taxonomic Authority: (RAFINESQUE)

Taxonomy References: 002

Status

NONGAME
STATE RANK SU

Status References: 005 , 008 , 009 , 015

Habitat Summary

"Inhabits permanent streams. Often found in swift current below dams."

Primary Habitat: "Aquatic - river/stream"

References: 001 , 008 , 009 , 011

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Probably occurs at least occasionally in most large rivers where its movements are not blocked by dams. Is most abundant in the Mississippi river below the mouth of the Ohio river. *001*"

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
ATCHISON ANDREW CLARK ADAIR
BOONE BUCHANAN CRAWFORD AUDRAIN
CAPE GIRARDEAU BUTLER DUNKLIN BARRY
CARTER CALLAWAY MARIES BARTON
FRANKLIN CARROLL BATES
JEFFERSON CHARITON BENTON
LEWIS CLAY BOLLINGER
LINCOLN COLE CALDWELL
MARION COOPER CAMDEN
MILLER GASCONADE CASS
MISSISSIPPI HOLT CEDAR
NEW MADRID HOWARD CHRISTIAN
PEMISCOT JACKSON CLINTON
PERRY LAFAYETTE DADE
PLATTE MONITEAU DALLAS
RIPLEY MONTGOMERY DAVIESS
SCOTT OSAGE DEKALB
SHANNON PIKE DENT
ST. CHARLES RALLS DOUGLAS
ST. LOUIS RAY GENTRY
WARREN SALINE GREENE
STE. GENEVIEVE GRUNDY
HARRISON
HENRY
HICKORY
HOWELL
IRON
JASPER
JOHNSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAWRENCE
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MACON
MADISON
MCDONALD
MERCER
MONROE
MORGAN
NEWTON
NODAWAY
OREGON
OZARK
PETTIS
PHELPS
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RANDOLPH
REYNOLDS
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SHELBY
ST. CLAIR
ST. FRANCOIS
STODDARD
STONE
SULLIVAN
TANEY
TEXAS
VERNON
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEBSTER
WORTH
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 001 , 003 , 004

Distribution by Watersheds

Wyaconda R.
Miss. R. from Des Moines R. to MO. R.; and North R.
Cuivre R.
Dardenne Creek
Miss. R. from St. Louis to River Aux Vases
Meramec R.
Miss. R. from River Aux Vases to Ohio R.
Miss R. from Ohio R. to Arkansas Border
Mo. R. from Nishnabotna R. to Nodaway R.
Mo.R. from Nodaway to Kansas City
Osage R. from Bagnell Dam to Mo. R.
Mo. R. from Little Chariton R. to Gasconade R.
Mo. R. from Gasconade R. to Miss. R.
Current R.

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Central Till Plains, Mississippi River Alluvial Plains, Ozark Highlands

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Oak-Hickory Forest
Oak-Hickory-Pine Forest
Southern Floodplain Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Glaciated Plains: Eastern
Glaciated Plains: Lincoln Hills
Big Rivers: Upper Missouri
Big Rivers: Lower Missouri
Big Rivers: Upper Mississippi
Big Rivers: Lower Mississippi
Ozark Border
Ozark Border: Missouri River
Ozark Border: Mississippi River
Ozark: Upper Ozark
Ozark: Lower Ozark
Mississippi Lowlands: Lowlands

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Aquatic" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Riverine

Aquatic Associations:

"Riverine, unknown perennial"

References for Aquatic Associations: 001 , 008 , 009 , 011

Habitat Types:

Permanent Stream

References for Habitat Types: 006

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Carnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits

Adult Food Habits

Osteichthyes (bony fishes); Not Specified
Cypriniformes (minnows, carps, suckers); Not Specified
Crustaceans; Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 001 , 010

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Current velocity: swift current
Water level: permanently flooded
Water depth: deep
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 011

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)

References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 011

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Current velocity: swift current
Water level: permanently flooded
Water depth: deep
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 001 , 011

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Current velocity: swift current
Big river habitat: main channel
Big river habitat: main channel border
Big river habitat: side-channels
Big river habitat: backwaters
Big river habitat: tributary confluence
Big river habitat specified in comments(00175)
Water level: permanently flooded
Water depth: deep
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: eighth order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
Stream order specified in comments(00260)

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 001 , 003 , 011 , 013 , 014

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Current velocity: swift current
Big river habitat: main channel
Big river habitat: main channel border
Big river habitat: side-channels
Big river habitat: backwaters
Big river habitat: tributary confluence
Big river habitat specified in comments(00175)
Water level: permanently flooded
Water depth: deep
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: eighth order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
Stream order specified in comments(00260)

References for resting adult niche requirements: 001 , 003 , 011

Niche Requirement Summary

Big river habitat specified in comments(00175)
Big river habitat: backwaters
Big river habitat: main channel
Big river habitat: main channel border
Big river habitat: side-channels
Big river habitat: tributary confluence
Current velocity: swift current
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order specified in comments(00260)
Stream order: eighth order stream
Stream order: fifth order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Turbidity specified in comments(00040)
Water depth: deep
Water level: permanently flooded

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
039 Maximum length and weight reported is 21", 3.5 pounds *001*.
004 Forage by active pursuit *004*.
007 Spawning season possibly extends early May to early July *008*.
012 Spawning site information unavailable
038 Adults commonly 12-16", in Mississippi R., reach 3-5" by end of 1st year *001*.

Life History Information

Age and growth information specified in comments(038)
Length-weight relationships specified in comments(039)
School throughout life
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy specified in comments(004)
Foraging sites: water
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Spawning site: flowing water
Spawning site specified in comments(012)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
039 Maximum length and weight reported is 21", 3.5 pounds *001*.
004 Forage by active pursuit *004*.
007 Spawning season possibly extends early May to early July *008*.
012 Spawning site information unavailable
038 Adults commonly 12-16", in Mississippi R., reach 3-5" by end of 1st year *001*.

References for life history: 001 , 004 , 008 , 009

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Beneficial Management References:

Adverse Managment Practices:

Adverse Management References:

Comments on Management:

References for Management Comments:

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Pflieger, W.L. 1997. The Fishes Of Missouri, Revised Edition. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 372 Pp.
002 Nelson, Joseph S., Edwin J. Crossman, Héctor Espinosa-Pérez, Lloyd T. Findley, Carter R. Gilbert, Robert N. Lea, and James D. Williams. 2004. Common And Scientific Names Of Fishes From The United States, Canada and Mexico (6th Ed.). Amer. Fish Soc. Spec. Publ. No. 29. 386 pp.
003 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. The Stream Resources Of Missouri. D-J Project F-1-R-28. Study S-20. Mo Dept. Of Conservation, 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201 (573-882-9880).
004 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. Mo Dept. Of Conservation, 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201 (573-882-9880).
005 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
006 Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp.
007 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
008 Coker, R.E. 1930. Studies Of Common Fishes Of The Mississippi River At Keokuk. Bull. U.S. Bur. Fish. 45:141-225. (Cited In Ref. 01).
009 Cross, F.B. and D.G. Huggins. 1975. Skipjack Herring, Alosa Chrysochloris, In The Missouri River Basin. Copeia 1975(2):382-385.
010 Cross, F.B. 1967. Handbook Of Fishes Of Kansas. Univ. Ks Mus. Nat. Hist. Misc. Publ. 45. 357 Pp.
011 Trautman, M.B. 1957. The Fishes Of Ohio. Ohio State Univ. Press. 683 Pp.
012 Pflieger, W.L. 1989. Aquatic Community Classification System For Missouri. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Aquatic Series No. 19. 70 Pp + Supplement.
013 Unpb Gelwicks, G.T. 1995. Fish Movement Between The Lower Missouri River And A Managed Floodplain Wetland In Missouri. M.S. Thesis, Univ. Of Missouri-Columbia. 190 Pp.
014 Unpb Tibbs, J.E. 1995. Habitat Use By Small Fishes In The Lower Mississippi River Related To Foraging By Least Terns (Sterna Altillarum). M.S. Thesis, Univ. Of Missouri-Columbia. 184 Pp.
015 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2013. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department of Conservation. Jefferson City, MO. pp. 52.