Teleostei (teleosts) >
Salmoniformes (Salmons) >
Salmonidae (Salmonids) > Thymallinae
Etymology: Thymallus: Greek, thymallos, -ou = a kind of fish similar to salmon (Ref. 45335); arcticus: arcticus meaning of the arctic (Ref. 1998).
More on author: Pallas.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; depth range 30 - ? m (Ref. 5723). Temperate; 71°N - 44°N
North America: widespread in Arctic drainages from Hudson Bay, Canada to Alaska and in Arctic and Pacific drainages to central Alberta and British Columbia in Canada; upper Missouri River drainage in Montana, USA. Formerly in Great Lakes basin in Michigan, USA (Ref. 5723). Arctic Ocean basin in Siberia from Ob to Yenisei drainages and in Europe in some tributaries of Pechora (Usa, Kosyu, Kozhim), Korotaikha and Kara (Ref. 59043).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 24.5, range 23 - 26 cm
Max length : 76.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5723); common length : 34.3 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12193); max. published weight: 3.8 kg (Ref. 40637); max. reported age: 18 years (Ref. 33969)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17 - 25; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 11 - 15; Vertebrae: 58 - 62. Distinguished by its greatly enlarged dorsal fin and its small mouth, which has fine teeth on both jaws (Ref. 27547). Dorsal greatly enlarged in adults (especially males), reaching adipose fin when depressed, but is shorter in females; pelvic fins rather long, reach anal fin in adult males, but not in females; lower lobe of caudal often longer than upper (Ref. 27547). A strikingly colored fish, the dorsal surface is dark purple, or blue black to blue gray, the sides gray to dark blue with pinkish iridescence, the ventral surface gray to white (Ref. 1998). Scattered dark spots on sides, these being more numerous on the young; a dark longitudinal stripe along lower sides between pectoral and pelvic fins; dorsal fin dark with narrow purple edge (rows of reddish to orange or purple to green spots on body of fin); pelvic fins dark with irregular diagonal orange-yellow stripes; adipose, dorsal, anal, caudal and pectorals dusky to dark (Ref. 27547).
Inhabits open water of clear, cold, medium to large rivers and lakes. Enters rocky creeks to spawn (Ref. 5723). Occurs in piedmont and montane cold streams, rivers and lakes with high oxygen concentrations (Ref. 59043). Forms schools in moderate numbers (Ref. 9988). Young feed on zooplankton with a gradual shift to immature insects; adults feed mainly on surface insects but also take in fishes, fish eggs, lemmings, and planktonic crustaceans (Ref. 1998). Spawns in montane streams with heavy current on shallows with rock-gravel bottom (Ref. 59043). Utilized fresh and can be fried, broiled, boiled, and baked (Ref. 9988).
Spawning adults move into tributaries and males establish territories. At spawning, the male follows a female, courting her with displays of his dorsal fin. He then drifts over beside her and curves his extended dorsal fin over the female. The pair vibrates and release eggs and milt. No redd is constructed, but the vibrations of the tails during the spawning act stirs up the substrate and produce a slight depression (Ref. 28876, 28879, 28880, 28881, 28882). A female may spawn only once, or several times in different areas (Ref. 1998). After spawning, adults establish summer territories in pools generally farther upstream from the spawning site, majority moving downstream in mid-September (Ref. 28885, 28886).
McClanes, A.J. (ed.), 1974. Field guide to freshwater fishes of North America. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York. 212 p. (Ref. 3221)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5001 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00832 (0.00593 - 0.01167), b=3.09 (3.00 - 3.18), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.2 se; based on diet studies.
Generation time: 7.3 (5.5 - 9.2) years. Estimated as median ln(3)/K based on 10
growth studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.10-0.23; tm=2-6; tmax=18; Fec=416).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (51 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 30.1 [7.9, 61.1] mg/100g; Iron = 0.678 [0.213, 1.553] mg/100g; Protein = 18.6 [16.8, 20.3] %; Omega3 = 1.91 [0.63, 6.48] g/100g; Selenium = 59.2 [22.5, 181.7] μg/100g; VitaminA = 23.2 [6.6, 69.7] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.709 [0.384, 1.339] mg/100g (wet weight); based on
nutrient studies.
