It also has a more "herring-like" body shape than other Caspian shad species, being a slender and elongate fish.

[2][3] Alosa braschnikowi feeds on small fishes but also on crustaceans and occasionally other invertebrates.

It performs migrations within the Caspian Sea, but does not enter rivers.

Several subspecies have been described, with different breeding habits and with varying gill raker numbers.

[2][3] The suggested subspecies include:[3] Even Alosa curensis and Alosa maeotica have sometimes been listed as subspecies of A. brashnikovi; the latter is from the Pontic basin and now considered distinct (non-Caspian) species.