Alaska whitefish (Coregonus nelsonii)

Scientific name: Coregonus nelsonii Bean, 1884

The Alaska whitefish (Coregonus nelsonii) is a freshwater fish of the family Salmonidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 10 - 14; Vertebrae: 60 - 63. Distinguished by the gill rakers that are longer than 20% of the interorbital width, a total of 22 to 27 gill rakers on the first arch (with modal counts of 24 or 25), and a pronounced hump behind the head in adults. Adipose fin well developed, often larger in males; axillary process present in pelvic fins. Dark brown to midnight blue above fading to silver on sides and wide beneath; no parr marks in young.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Coregonus nelsonii
Family
Salmonidae (Salmonids)
Order
Salmoniformes (Salmons)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
56.0
Environment
Freshwater; benthopelagic; potamodromous
Climate
Boreal
Distribution
North America: Probably restricted to northern Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory in Canada and Alaska in Yukon River, Paxson Lake, Copper River system, Anderson River and Mackenzie River delta. Hybridizes with Stenodus leucichthys, probably a result of simultaneous broadcasting of reproductive products in the same area; occasionally hybridizes with Coregonus sardinella. Belongs to the Coregonus clupeaformis complex.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=3-5)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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