A slow-growing fish which inhabits rivers. A cold water fish and never goes to the ocean; finds deep cold waters during summer; can be found under the ice in late fall and winter (Ref. 12218). Feeds on larval and adult insects, amphipods, small fish, frogs, mice and salmon spawn (Ref. 593). During spawning the body turns to a dark red and the dorsal and pectoral fins change to a rainbow of colors (Ref. 12218).

Asia: Siberia, Korea and North China. A subspecies, Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis is endemic to parts of the Taibaishan Mountain in the Qinling Mountains, particularly in the Heihe River at the eastern foot, the Shitouhe River at the northern foot and the Xushui and Taibaihe rivers at the southern foot of the mountain. Status of threat: Vulnerable (Ref. 45563).

Maximum size: 665 mm TL

70.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 40637)); 60 cm TL (female); max. published weight: 8,000 g (Ref. 12218)

This taxon is one of a number of benthopelagic species in the Amur River system. Benthopelagic river fish are found near the bottom of the water column, feeding on benthos and zooplankton

The persistence of mercury contamination in Amur River bottom sediments is a major issue, arising from historic cinnabar mining in the basin and poor waste management practises, especially in the communist Soviet era, where industrial development was placed ahead of sound conservation practises.

Other large benthopelagic river fish of the Amur Basin is the 200 cm yellowcheek (Elopichthys bambusa) and the 122 cm Mongolian redfin (Chanodichthys mongolicus)

benthopelagic; anadromous (Ref. 51243); freshwater

Anadromous. Fish that ascend rivers to spawn, as salmon and hilsa do. Sub-division of diadromous. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Feeds on fish and benthic organisms (Ref. 593).

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Species: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1

Not Evaluated

fisheries: commercial