Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus)

Scientific name: Thymallus arcticus Pallas, 1776

Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus)

The Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) is a freshwater fish of the family Salmonidae.

Biology

Inhabits open water of clear, cold, medium to large rivers and lakes. Enters rocky creeks to spawn. Occurs in piedmont and montane cold streams, rivers and lakes with high oxygen concentrations. Forms schools in moderate numbers. Young feed on zooplankton with a gradual shift to immature insects; adults feed mainly on surface insects but also take in fishes, fish eggs, lemmings, and planktonic crustaceans. Spawns in montane streams with heavy current on shallows with rock-gravel bottom. Utilized fresh and can be fried, broiled, boiled, and baked.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Thymallus arcticus
Family
Salmonidae (Salmonids)
Order
Salmoniformes (Salmons)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
76.0
Common length
34.3
Depth range
30 m (98 ft)
Environment
Freshwater; benthopelagic; depth range 30 - ? m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
North America: widespread in Arctic drainages from Hudson Bay, Canada to Alaska and in Arctic and Pacific drainages to central Alberta and British Columbia in Canada; upper Missouri River drainage in Montana, USA. Formerly in Great Lakes basin in Michigan, USA. Arctic Ocean basin in Siberia from Ob to Yenisei drainages and in Europe in some tributaries of Pechora (Usa, Kosyu, Kozhim), Korotaikha and Kara.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.10-0.23; tm=2-6; tmax=18; Fec=416)

Sources

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

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