Scientific Name
Hucho taimen
Common Name
Taimen
Biology
Inhabits piedmont and montane cold rivers with high oxygen concentrations. Prefers to live in deeper holes with slow current for periods of reduced activity (day time, winter), but also lower reaches, estuaries, cold lakes and reservoirs. Both juveniles and adults are territorial. Adults frequently occur within their own restricted territory (deep holes below rapids and waterfalls, confluence of small tributaries, below bridge pillar or large rocks, bank excavations), which they abandon only foraging and spawning. Young individuals do not maintain permanent territory. Feeds on fishes and terrestrial vertebrates. Breeds in shallow places with fast current on pebble bottom, immediately downstream of large deep pools, often in small river tributaries. Usually undertakes upriver migration for spawning in the upper reaches of tributaries. Can overcome quite hig