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| Inconnu | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
 Extinct in the Wild (IUCN 3.1) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Salmoniformes |
| Family: | Salmonidae |
| Genus: | Stenodus Richardson, 1836 |
| Species: | S. leucichthys |
| Binomial name | |
| Stenodus leucichthys (Güldenstädt, 1772) | |
The inconnu or sheefish (Stenodus leucichthys), also known as "Coney" in the Canadian North, is a large salmonid fish, closely related to the freshwater whitefishes in the genus Coregonus. The main distribution of inconnu is in the north-bound drainages of North America and Eurasia, but a distinct stock also inhabits rivers draining to the Caspian Sea.
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 green, blue or brown on the back. The meat is white, flaky and somewhat oily.
The fish eat plankton for their first year of life and then become predators of smaller fish. The fish live in lakes and rivers and in the brackish water at the outlets of rivers into the ocean. The fish may migrate 1500 km (1000 miles) to spawn.
An adult fish weighs from 14-25 kg (30-55 pounds).
Subspecies
The species Stenodus leucichthys can be divided into two geographical subspecies. Some scientist and the IUCN have even treated them as different species, whereas others make no distinction.
- Stenodus leucichthys leucichthys, a subspecies endemic to rivers draining to the Caspian Sea, the Volga in particular. This subspecies is now extinct in the wild.
- Stenodus leucichthys nelma, the subspecies of rivers draining to the Arctic basin, in Europe, North Asia and North America.
References
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Stenodus leucichthys". FishBase. May 2007 version.
- ^ Template:IUCN2008
- "Stenodus leucichthys". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. July 15.
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External links
- "Mackenzie River Ecosystem: A Dynamic Delta: Inconnu: The "Unknown" Fish" Great Canadian Rivers, accessed 18 March 2009
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