Salvelinus lepechini (Gmelin, 1789)

Family:  Salmonidae (Salmonids), subfamily: Salmoninae
Max. size:  75 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  Europe: Lakes in Sweden, Norway, southern Finland and northern Russia (Kola Peninsula, northern Karelia, including Lakes Ladoga and Onega).
Diagnosis:  Distinguished from congeners in Scandinavia and Russia by its maxilla clearly reaching beyond posterior margin of eye in adults. Can be also diagnosed by the combination of the following characters: length of maxilla about 9-11% SL; length of lower jaw about 13-20% SL; body depth about 18-24% SL; overall coloration outside spawning season dark, commonly greyish green above and bright orange or yellow on belly; spots usually bright orange; lips usually yellow, orange or pink (black in Lake Segozero); pectoral, pelvic and anal fins usually greyish red or orange, caudal fin with red or orange posterior edge and white or black lower margin (Ref. 59043).
Biology:  Found in large deep lakes, very rarely in rivers. Feeds on fish, amphipods, mollusks, insects and gammarids. Spawning occurs in lakes in shallow water along sand-pebble shores. Reaches up to about 75 cm SL (Ref. 59043).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 05 March 2010 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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