Arctic cisco
📖 Overview
Adults occur in brackish waters (20-22 ppt) of coastal lagoons and mouths of rivers and bays . Nerito-pelagic . Food consists of small crustaceans, insects, small fishes , worms and clams . No feeding occurs during the upstream migration . Lives 10 -12 years, rarely up to 20 . Mature individuals enter rivers in shoals to spawn . They spend 6-8 years at sea before maturing and returning to rivers in June - July, to spawn in September - October of same year. A second run in autumn; those fishes remain a year in rivers before spawning. They move far upstream, sometimes up to 1500 km, spawn in shallow tributaries with some current in well oxygenated water over gravel bottom. Individual females do not spawn every year; only 2-3 times during entire life. After spawning adults return directly to sea. Embryonic development lasts up to 7 months. Alevins migrate downstream in May - June . Collected by fyke nets . An important commercial species but catches and abundance are markedly reduced in recent years .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 12; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 14; Vertebrae: 64 - 67. Distinguished by the pale or colorless pelvic fins, a terminal mouth and the presence of 41 to 48 gill rakers on the 1st gill arch . Dorsal fairly high and slightly falcate; pelvic with axillary process . Brown to dark greenish above fading to silvery on sides and belly; fins pale .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Arctic cisco is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
The Arctic cisco preys upon plankton, crustaceans and small fishes.
🥚 Reproduction
Mature adults migrate upstream in the summer and may cover as much as 1,000 km to spawn over gravel in fairly swift water. After spawning, adults return downstream. Young probably hatch in the spring and descend rivers into estuaries . Coregonus autumnalis do not breed yearly .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; freshwater; brackish; pelagic-neritic; anadromous . Polar; 84°N - 49°N, 8°W - 95°W North America: Cape Barrow to Coronation Bay.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Arctic cisco is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 18.3 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 693 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Arctic cisco has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (oily fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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