West African Ilisha, Ilisha africana, called Shawa in Yoruba, is a species of longfin, fairly small, silvery fish which occurs in large stocks in inshore waters of Nigeria. This species has a small pelvic fin, and a long anal fin with finrays originating from below dorsal fin base. The dorsal fin is at or before midpoint of the body. Ilisha feeds on plankton, benthic invertebrates, fish, and detritus.