Sheefish
📖 Overview
Nerito-pelagic . Adults occur in coastal brackish waters near mouths of rivers, but usually in rivers or some land-locked lakes . At the sea, they are found throughout basin in pelagic zone with temperatures below 18° C and 20-50 m deep . Juveniles and adults overwinter and forage at the sea. Encountered in large lowland rivers during migration . Adults feed mostly on small fishes; young eat aquatic insect larvae and planktonic crustaceans . During spawning migration, it feeds little if at all . Mature individuals spawn on gravel shallows . Flesh is white, sweet and slightly oily . Sold fresh or frozen.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 19; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 14 - 19; Vertebrae: 63 - 69. Distinguished by its large mouth, the protruding lower jaw, and the presence of only 13 to 17 gill rakers on the lower limb of the first gill arch . Dorsal fin high and pointed; pelvic fins with well developed axillary process . Generally silvery, with the back usually rather green, blue or pale brown; silvery white below; dorsal and caudal fins have dusky margins, other fins pale .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Sheefish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Upstream migration from wintering areas begins at ice break-up. Early upstream movement may be associated with feeding, but movement soon becomes a definite migration to the spawning area. Spawning begins at dusk, and continuing well into the night. A female accompanied by a male, swims to the surface near the upstream end of the spawning ground. She rapidly moves across the current, extruding her eggs. The male, stays below the female so that as the eggs sink, sperm released, fertilizes the eggs. After completing a spawning pass, the female drifts downstream. She may repeat the spawning act over the downstream portion of the spawning area or may move upstream to the head of the grounds before releasing more eggs. Following spawning, there is a fairly rapid downstream migration to wintering grounds . It is not certain if spawning occurs annually or at longer intervals . Russian fish appear to spawn only every third or fourth year . Spawning frequency at Selawik, Alaska may be every other year .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; anadromous ; depth range 10 - ? m . Boreal; 73°N - 58°N, 36°E - 111°W North America: Arctic drainages from Anderson River in Northwest Territories, Canada to Kuskokwim River (Bering Sea tributary) in Alaska.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-action 8-9ft fly rod
- 5-8 lb tippet
- floating or sinking-tip line
- seams and current breaks in rivers
- tributary mouths
- undercut banks
- deep pools during high sun
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Strict bag and size limits vary by jurisdiction. Barbless hooks required in many rivers.
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salmo leucichthys | Güldenstädt | 1772 | Homotypic |
| Salmo mackenzii | Richardson | 1823 | Synonym |
| Stenodus leucichthys leucichthys | Güldenstädt | 1772 | Synonym |
| Stenodus leucichthys mackenzii | Richardson | 1823 | Synonym |
| Stenodus mackenzii | Richardson | 1823 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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