Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Salmoniformes (Salmons) >
Salmonidae (Salmonids) > Coregoninae
Etymology: Coregonus: Greek, kore = pupils of the eye + Greek, gonia = angle (Ref. 45335); clupeaformis: clupeaformis meaning herring-shaped (Ref. 1998).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Freshwater; brackish; demersal; anadromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 18 - 128 m (Ref. 3849). Temperate, preferred ?; 71°N - 40°N
North America: throughout Alaska and most of Canada south into New England, the Great Lakes basin, and central Minnesota. This species was stocked into high Andean lakes in two countries in southern Latin America (Ref. 1739). Probably conspecific with Coregonus lavaretus (Ref. 7506). Belongs to Coregonus clupeaformis complex (Ref. 27547).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 25.7 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 100.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9988); common length : 54.1 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12193); max. published weight: 19.0 kg (Ref. 28850); max. reported age: 50 years (Ref. 3494)
Primarily a lake dweller (Ref. 27547). Also found in large rivers and enters brackish water (Ref. 5723). Nerito-pelagic (Ref. 58426). Appears to be rather sedentary, at least in the Great Lakes (Ref. 27547). Movement in large lakes generally consists of 4 stages: movement from deep to shallow water in the spring; movement back to deep water in the summer as the shoal water warms; migration to shallow-water spawning areas in the fall and early winter; and post-spawning movement back to deeper water (Ref. 27547). Forms separate populations in large lakes (Ref. 27547). Adults feed mainly on aquatic insect larvae, mollusks and amphipods (Ref. 1091, 3849), but also other fishes and fish eggs, including their own (Ref. 1998). Extensive hatchery programs for the propagation have been carried out on the Great Lakes and other areas for years (Ref. 3746, 3849). Valued for its meat as well as for its roe, which is made into an excellent caviar; utilized fresh, smoked, and frozen; eaten steamed, fried, broiled, boiled, microwaved, and baked (Ref. 9988).
Spawning occurs at night (Ref. 10242, 10344, 28849). A female and one or more males rise to the surface, release eggs and milt and descend separately toward the bottom (Ref. 27547). Spawning fish are very active and may leap completely out of the water (Ref. 1998). Breeds annually in the southern parts of the range, but only every other year or even every third year in the arctic and sub-arctic regions (Ref. 3757).
Scott, W.B. and E.J. Crossman, 1998. Freshwater fishes of Canada. Oakville (Ontario, Canada): Galt House Publications. xx+966 p. (Ref. 1998)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums
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