Puzanok

the Russian designation for several species of shad of the genus Alosa (or Caspialosa) of the family Clupeidae. The fishes are pelagic. A. caspia feeds on plankton, and A. saposhnikovi on other fishes. The fishes are distinguished from other species of the genus A losa by their small size (length, usually less than 25 cm; weight, to 150–200 g), tall body, and large head. A. caspia is found in the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov; A. saposhnikovi and A. sphaerocephala inhabit the Caspian Sea. In the Caspian Sea the fishes spawn in the area near the mouth of the Volga. The individuals that inhabit the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov are considerably smaller than those in the Caspian; they are approximately 15 cm long and weigh up to 50–60 g. The fishes are noted for their high fat content and their palatability, especially the subspecies A. caspia tanaica. All three species are decreasing in number.