Salmo ezenami
Species of fish
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Salmo ezenami, known as the Kezenoi-Am trout, is a critically endangered freshwater salmonid fish, endemic to Lake Kezenoi-Am (Lake Eizenam) in Northern Caucasus.[2]
| Salmo ezenami | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Salmoniformes |
| Family: | Salmonidae |
| Genus: | Salmo |
| Species: | S. ezenami |
| Binomial name | |
| Salmo ezenami L. S. Berg, 1948 | |
The only natural habitat where this species occurs is in Lake Kezenoi-Am in Chechnya at the border of Dagestan. This lake is a cold alpine lake, with an area of 2.4 km2 (0.93 sq mi), a maximum depth of 74 m (243 ft), and at an altitude of 1,870 m (6,140 ft) above sea level. In addition, the species has been introduced to another lake in Dagestan, Lake Mochokh, probably successfully.[1]
Salmo ezenami used to be the only fish species in Lake Kezenoi-Am. However, two other species, the European chub and Caspian gudgeon have been introduced, and present a threat by eating the fry of Salmo.[1]
Salmo ezenami spawns in the lake, close to underwater springs. Adult fish also probably migrate to tributaries. There are separate small-sized and large-sized adult forms with size ranges of 160–260 mm (6.3–10.2 in) and 380–1,130 mm (15–44 in) respectively. Young prey on gammarids and chironomids; adults also eat molluscs and fishes, after the introduction of nonnative species.[1]
