Ohrid trout
| Ohrid trout | |
|---|---|
| File:Salmo letnica.jpg | |
| Scientific classification | |
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| Species: | S. letnica
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| Binomial name | |
| Salmo letnica
(Karaman, 1924) | |
The Ohrid trout[1][2] (Salmo letnica) or the Lake Ohrid brown trout[3] is an endemic species of trout in Lake Ohrid and in its tributaries and outlet, the Black Drin river, in the Republic of Macedonia and Albania in the Balkans.
Taxonomy
The Ohrid trout is part of the brown trout complex, and therefore its taxonomic status is controversial.[3] It has however been deemed to be genetically sufficiently distinct to be regarded as a distinct species for conservation arguments.[4]
Subdivision of the Ohrid trout
Within the Ohrid trout itself, up to four intralacustrine forms have been separated, which are treated as distinct species in the FishBase and by the IUCN. Morphological or molecular data so far do not support this division however.[2][3][4] These forms are characterized by different breeding areas and different breeding times, by which they are reproductively isolated from each other. The four forms or species include.
- Salmo balcanicus, breeds in the outlet of the lake in its NW end, in October–January; possibly extinct.
- Salmo lumi, breeds in January–February in the tributaries of the lake.
- Salmo aphelios, breeds in May–July near springs of the eastern shore of the lake.
- Salmo letnica, breeds in January–February.[1]
In addition to the Ohrid trout, Lake Ohrid has another endemic and truly distinct salmonid, Salmo ohridanus.[3]
Fisheries and gastronomy
The Ohrid trout is a specialty in Macedonian gastronomy; it is used for soups and other dishes. It tastes like a brown trout crossed with an atlantic salmon.
In recent years extensive fishing has driven the Ohrid trout to the verge of extinction. A seven year fishing ban has been imposed by the Government of Macedonia, but the number of fish is still dwindling due to illegal fishing and overfishing in Albania.
The Ohrid trout is depicted on the reverse of the Macedonian 2 denars coin, issued in 1993.[5]
References
- ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Salmo letnica". FishBase. February 2010 version.
- ^ a b Crivelli, A.J. 2006. Salmo letnica. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.1 Downloaded on 20 May 2010.
- ^ a b c d Lake Ohrid trouts Balkan trout restoration group. Downloaded on 20 May 2010.
- ^ a b Suśnik S, Snoj A, Wilson I, Mrdak D, Weiss S (2007) Historical demography of brown trout (Salmo trutta) in the Adriatic drainage including the putative S. letnica endemic to Lake Ohrid. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 44(1), 63-76. (abstract)
- ^ National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia. Macedonian currency: Coins in circulation. – Retrieved on 30 March 2009.
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