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Pre-Shed Pulse 80.3kb
This video shows the shad 'pulsing' it's body prior to a skin shed. Note the other shad in the background that is completing its shed.
After-Shed Pulse 87.5kb
Once the shad has shed its first skin, it pulses for a while before opening its wings and flying away one last time.
Shedding #1 ~ 294kb
This clip shows the position the shad goes into prior to the shed. The wings begin to spread and the eyes seem to bulge (not too visible on this version). Finally, the little critter simply begins to go into body thrusts to shed that layer! You might think that when it falls down, it is dead. It's not. There are many things going on at that time.
Shedding #2 ~ 344kb
Here we see the little shad actually move the old layer from it's entire body right down to the tail. The wings come back out as new, coating free wings, and the struggle continues.
Shedding #3 ~ 283kb
In this clip, the shad has the daunting task of removing the layer from its tail. This usually involves climbing something, which helps the layer to fall off thanks to gravity and shaking.
Shedding #4 ~ 278kb
Here we see our shad climbing in hope of shedding that damn layer.
Shedding #5 ~ 252kb
Finally our little friend walks free of the old skin and begins to climb. Later, after this clip, the shad will relax for a time before taking one last flight (if it doesn't die on the spot or get eaten by a black bird) before landing again and dying.
