Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) fish species and information / pictures of Lake trout - Salvelinus namaycush

Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) fish species information

Scientific Name
Salvelinus namaycush

Common Name
Lake trout

Biology
Found in shallow and deep waters of northern lakes and streams and is restricted to relatively deep lakes in the southern part of its range (Ref. 5723). Rarely in brackish water (Ref. 11980). A solitary wanderer, the extent of their movements apparently limited by the size of the lake and individual (Ref. 27547). Although lake trout generally feed on a variety of organisms such as freshwater sponges, crustaceans, insects, fishes (with a preference for ciscoes), and small mammals, some populations feed on plankton throughout their lives (Ref. 27547). Such plankton-feeding lake trout grow more slowly, mature earlier and at smaller size, die sooner and attain smaller maximum size than do their fish-eating counterparts (Ref. 30351). Lake trout are highly susceptible to pollution, especially from insecticides (Ref. 14019, 27547). Utilized as a food fish, its fle

Classification

Classified By

Walbaum, 1792

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Salmons (Salmoniformes)

Family

Salmonids (Salmonidae)

Distribution

Region

North America

Distribution

North America: Widely distributed from northern Canada and Alaska south to New England in USA and Great Lakes basin in Canada-USA. Introduced widely to many areas outside its native range. Splakes (hybrid between Salvelinus namaycush and Salvelinus fontinalis) have also been successfully introduced to many areas of North America. The three observed phenotypes existing in Lake Superior (lean, siscowet and humper or paperbelly) are under some genetic control and not merely expressions of environmental adaptation (Ref. 40529).

Range

65°N - 43°S

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

18 m

Depth To - meters

53 m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; benthopelagic; non-migratory; depth range 18 - 53 m (Ref. 1998), usually 18 - 53 m (Ref. 1998)

Trophic Level

4.29 s.e. 0.71 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

150 cm

Common Length

50.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (72 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.05-0.12; tm=5-20; tmax=50; Fec=5,000)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated