| Revision as of 14:13, 19 July 2011 editInnotata (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, File movers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers43,065 edits we're treating it as one species now and genus redirects here, so state so again; common name for S. (l.) nelma not just in Russia/Russian← Previous edit | Revision as of 14:14, 19 July 2011 edit undoInnotata (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, File movers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers43,065 editsmNo edit summaryNext edit → | ||
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| '''''Stenodus leucichthys''''' |
'''''Stenodus leucichthys''''' is a species of ] in the family ]. It is also known variously by the common names '''sheefish''', '''inconnu''', '''connie''', '''nelma''' and '''beloribitsa'''. There are two ], sometimes considered distinct species, one of which lives in Eurasian and North American rivers of the ] basin, the other in the landlocked ] basin. If these populations considered one species, this species is the only member of the genus ''Stenodus''. | ||
| == Description == | == Description == | ||
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| == Distribution and taxonomy == | == Distribution and taxonomy == | ||
| The species ''Stenodus leucichthys'' can be divided into two geographical subspecies.<ref name="Belyaeva">E. S. Belyaeva: . caspianenvironment.org</ref> These subspecies are sometimes even considered separate species, a treatment followed by the ],<ref name="IUCN leucichthys">{{IUCN|IUCN_Year=2011|author=Freyhof, J. |
The species ''Stenodus leucichthys'' can be divided into two geographical subspecies.<ref name="Belyaeva">E. S. Belyaeva: . caspianenvironment.org</ref> These subspecies are sometimes even considered separate species, a treatment followed by the ],<ref name="IUCN leucichthys">{{IUCN|IUCN_Year=2011|author=Freyhof, J.; and Kottelat, M.|year=2008|ID=20745|title=Stenodus leucichthys}}</ref><ref>{{IUCN|IUCN_Year=2011|author=Freyhof, J.; and Kottelat, M.|year=2008|ID=135545|title=Stenodus nelma}}</ref> whereas other sources make no distinction.<ref name="FB">{{FishBase species | genus = Stenodus | species = leucichthys | month = February | year = 2010}}</ref><ref>{{ITIS |id=162006 |taxon=Stenodus leucichthys |accessdate=July 15, 2007}}</ref> | ||
| * ''Stenodus leucichthys leucichthys'' (], 1772), the ], is found only in rivers draining to the ], such as ] in particular. This subspecies, known as the beloribitsa, is now ].<ref name="IUCN leucichthys"/><ref name="Belyaeva"/> | * ''Stenodus leucichthys leucichthys'' (], 1772), the ], is found only in rivers draining to the ], such as ] in particular. This subspecies, known as the beloribitsa, is now ].<ref name="IUCN leucichthys"/><ref name="Belyaeva"/> | ||
Revision as of 14:14, 19 July 2011
| Stenodus leucichthys | |
|---|---|
| File:Stenodus leucichthys nelma.jpg | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Salmoniformes |
| Family: | Salmonidae |
| Subfamily: | Coregoninae |
| Genus: | Stenodus Richardson, 1836 |
| Species: | S. leucichthys |
| Binomial name | |
| Stenodus leucichthys (Güldenstädt, 1772) | |
Stenodus leucichthys is a species of freshwater whitefish in the family Salmonidae. It is also known variously by the common names sheefish, inconnu, connie, nelma and beloribitsa. There are two subspecies, sometimes considered distinct species, one of which lives in Eurasian and North American rivers of the Arctic basin, the other in the landlocked Caspian Sea basin. If these populations considered one species, this species is the only member of the genus Stenodus.
Description
The fish has a large mouth with a protruding lower jaw and a high and pointed dorsal fin. It is generally silver in color with a green, blue or brown back. The meat is white, flaky and somewhat oily. An adult fish weighs from 14 to 25 kilograms (31 to 55 lb).
The fish eat plankton for their first year of life and then become predators of smaller fish. They live in lakes and rivers and in the brackish water at the outlets of rivers into the ocean, and may migrate 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) to spawn.
Distribution and taxonomy
The species Stenodus leucichthys can be divided into two geographical subspecies. These subspecies are sometimes even considered separate species, a treatment followed by the IUCN Red List, whereas other sources make no distinction.
- Stenodus leucichthys leucichthys (Güldenstädt, 1772), the nominate subspecies, is found only in rivers draining to the Caspian Sea, such as Volga in particular. This subspecies, known as the beloribitsa, is now extinct in the wild.
- Stenodus leucichthys nelma (Pallas, 1773), known as the nelma, is found in rivers draining to the Arctic basin in North-East Europe, northern Asia and North America.
Conservation
Fish of the nominate subspecies used to inhabit particularly the Volga, Ural and Terek rivers, and migrate up to 3,000 kilometres (1,900 mi) upstream from the Caspian to their spawning grounds in the spring. Following the construction of dams and hydropower reservoirs, the migration and natural reproduction has been impeded, and the taxon is now considered as extinct in the wild by the IUCN. The stock however survives in hatcheries and some populations are maintained by stocking, e.g. in the Caspian Sea.
References
- ^ E. S. Belyaeva: Stenodus leucichthys leucichthys. caspianenvironment.org
- ^ Template:IUCN
- Template:IUCN
- Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Stenodus leucichthys". FishBase. February 2010 version.
- "Stenodus leucichthys". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved July 15, 2007.