Pygmy whitefish
Pygmy whitefish | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Salmoniformes |
Family: | Salmonidae |
Genus: | Prosopium |
Species: | P. coulterii
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Binomial name | |
Prosopium coulterii (C. H. Eigenmann & R. S. Eigenmann, 1892)
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The pygmy whitefish (Prosopium coulterii) is a freshwater whitefish of the genus Prosopium in the family Salmonidae. Found in the mountain streams and lakes in western North America, it also has isolated populations in Lake Superior and in Ekityki Lake, Chukchi Peninsula.
Description
The pygmy whitefish is a small herring-like fish with a long and cylindrical body by comparison to other whitefishes.
Taxonomy
The pygmy whitefish was first described by Carl H. Eigenmann and Rosa Smith Eigenmann in 1892, as Coregonus coulteri. they named the species after the prominent botanist John Merle Coulter.[6] Since its initial description as a Coregonus, it has been placed in the genus Prosopium of more primitive whitefishes.[1] The members of this genus are distinguished from the other whitefishes by several characteristics, such as a single flap of skin over the nostril, rather than one; "parr marks" as on trout and char; a round body; and a small toothless mouth.[5] The genus name Prosopium, meaning "mask" in Greek, refers to the large bones in front of its eyes.[6]
Distribution
The pygmy whitefish is found mostly in the northern
Ecology
In Lake Superior, the pygmy whitefish spawns during November and December at depths of 31 to 46 metres (102 to 151 ft). Females lay an average of 362 orange eggs, with a diameter of 2.57 millimetres (0.101 in).
References
Literature cited
- Alaska Natural Heritage Program (2005). "Pygmy Whitefish" Fishes Tracking List and Status Reports. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-7432-2220-4.
- Becker, George C. (1983). Fishes of Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN 0-299-08790-5
- Dickson, Tom (2008). The Great Minnesota Fish Book Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 978-0-8166-5135-1
- Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (12). "Prosopium coulterii" in FishBase. February 12 version.
- Hubbs, Carl C.; Lagler, Karl F.; and Smith, Gerald R. (2004). Fishes of the Great Lakes Region revised ed. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. ISBN 0-472-11371-2
- Mackay, W. C. (2000). "Status of the Pygmy Whitefish (Prosopium coulteri) in Alberta." Wildlife Status Report 27 Edmonton, Alberta: Alberta Environment, Fisheries and Wildlife Management Division, and Alberta Conservation Association. Retrieved 16 February 2010
- Page, Lawrence M., and Burr, Brooks M. (1991). A Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-395-91091-9