Alosa caspia

Alosa caspia is a species of alosid fish, classified as one of the shad species (genus Alosa) endemic to the Caspian Sea basin.

FishBase treats separately three subspecies from the Caspian:

• Caspian shad, Alosa caspia caspia <small>(Eichwald, 1838)</small>
• Enzeli shad, Alosa caspia knipowitschi <small>(Iljin, 1927)</small>
• Astrabad shad, Alosa caspia persica <small>(Iljin, 1927)</small>

Previously, the taxonomic circumscription and geographic range of A. caspia were broader, encompassing the Sea of Azov and Black Sea basins. At one point, up to ten subspecies were recognised; these included forms now classified as Alosa tanaica (and its synonyms) and even the Balkan freshwater endemics Alosa macedonica and Alosa vistonica.

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