Ethmalosa

Ethmalosa
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Clupeiformes
Family: Dorosomatidae
Genus: Ethmalosa
Regan, 1917
Species:
E. fimbriata
Binomial name
Ethmalosa fimbriata
(S. Bowdich, 1825)
Synonyms
  • Clupea fimbriata Bowdich, 1825
  • Alausa dorsalis Valenciennes, 1847
  • Clupea dorsalis (Valenciennes, 1847)
  • Ethmalosa dorsalis (Valenciennes, 1847)
  • Harengula forsteri Valenciennes, 1847
  • Meletta senegalensis Valenciennes, 1847
  • Clupea senegalensis (Valenciennes, 1847)
  • Alausa platycephalus Bleeker, 1863
  • Clupea setosa Steindachner, 1869

Ethmalosa fimbriata, the bonga shad or just bonga, is a shad-like ray-finned fish, belonging to the family Dorosomatidae, formerly considered to be in the family Clupeidae. This species occurs along the coasts and in brackish water of coastal lagoons, rivers and lakes of western Africa from Dakhla in Western Sahara to Lobito in Angola. It is usually around 25 cm long but the maximum length is 45 cm. It is the only member of its genus.