Coregonus pidschian (Gmelin, 1789)
Humpback whitefish
photo by Runfola, D.M.

Family:  Salmonidae (Salmonids), subfamily: Coregoninae
Max. size:  50 cm SL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 14 years
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine, anadromous
Distribution:  Arctic Ocean basin, from Finland (lapland) to eastern Siberia, Alaska, and Canada eastward to Mackenzie drainage. Belongs to Coregonus clupeaformis complex (Ref. 27547).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 10-14; Vertebrae: 58-63. Distinguished by the gill rakers that are longer than 20% of the interorbital width, 19 to 25 gill rakers (with modal counts of 22 or 23), and a pronounced hump behind the head in adults (Ref. 27547). Adipose fin well developed, often larger in males; axillary process present in pelvic fins (Ref. 27547). Dark brown to midnight blue above fading to silver on sides and wide beneath; no parr marks in young (Ref. 27547).
Biology:  Inhabits coastal waters near shore (Ref. 5723), lower reaches of rivers with slow current, large lakes with tributaries, floodplain lakes, deltas and estuaries, brackish waters (Ref. 59043). Migrates up to more than 1,200 km inland for spawning (Ref. 5723). Overwinters near river mouths (Ref. 5723). There are non-migratory freshwater populations. Adults feed mostly on mollusks, crustaceans and chironomid larvae (Ref. 28219).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 January 2008 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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