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The inconnu (Stenodus leucichthys) is a species of freshwater whitefish of the family Salmonidae. It is also known as the "coney", nelma, belorybitsa, or sheefish. It is the only species in 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 green, blue or brown on the 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. The fish live in lakes and rivers and in the brackish water at the outlets of rivers into the ocean. The fish may migrate 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) to spawn.

Distribution and habitat

It is found in north-bound drainages of North America and Eurasia, but a distinct stock also inhabits rivers draining to the Caspian Sea. The countries where it is native are Canada, China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, and the United States.

Taxonomy

The species Stenodus leucichthys can be divided into two geographical subspecies. These subspecies are sometimes considered separate species, a treatment followed by the the IUCN Red List., whereas others 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 is now extinct in the wild.
• Stenodus leucichthys nelma (Pallas, 1773), is found in rivers draining to the Arctic basin, in 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

1. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Stenodus leucichthys". FishBase. February 2010 version.
2. E. S. Belyaeva: Stenodus leucichthys leucichthys. caspianenvironment.org
3. Template:IUCN
4. ^ Template:IUCN
5. "Stenodus leucichthys". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. July 15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)

External links

• "Mackenzie River Ecosystem: A Dynamic Delta: Inconnu: The "Unknown" Fish" Great Canadian Rivers

• Least concern species
• Stenodus
• Arctic freshwater fish
• Fish of the Pacific Ocean