Which species do the menhaden fish belong to?

Menhaden fish belong to the family Clupeidae and are primarily represented by two species: the Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) and the Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus). These fish are important for both commercial fishing and as a forage species in marine ecosystems, serving as a key food source for larger fish, birds, and marine mammals. They are commonly found along the Atlantic coast of North America.