Salvelinus thingvallensis

Salvelinus thingvallensis is a cold-water fish in the family Salmonidae and one of the few vertebrate species exclusively endemic to Iceland.[1] [2]

Salvelinus thingvallensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Subfamily: Salmoninae
Genus: Salvelinus
Species:
S. thingvallensis
Binomial name
Salvelinus thingvallensis
(Saemundsson, 1909)
Synonyms

Salmo alpinus thingvallensis Saemundsson, 1908

Its binomial species name commemorates the Icelandic lake Þingvallavatn which includes the limited range in which the fish is found.[3] Salvelinus thingvallensis was originally described by the Icelandic icthyologist Bjarni Sæmundsson in 1909.[4] According to the most recent IUCN assessment in 2008, the species is mostly nocturnal and hides between stones during day. Salvelinus thingvallensis is confirmed to live up to 17 years with first spawning usually occurring at 2–4 years of age in October or November. Salvelinus thingvallensis is documented to feed predominately on snails and less frequently on benthic insects.[5]

Description edit

The species is recognized by parr marks (dark vertical bars) in adults with a dark brown flank and irregular golden or yellow spots. The belly is beige to yellow in color with blackish markings often seen on throat. Spawning fish appear similar to non-breeding individuals. The pectoral fins are black, while other fins are beige. The caudal and dorsal fins include pale spots. The snout is blunt and rounded with an equal diameter to the eye. The mouth is subinferior, with a projecting upper jaw.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ "Animals and Plants Unique to Iceland". Archived from the original on 2022-04-07. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  2. ^ Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2022). FishBase. Salvelinus thingvallensis (Saemundsson, 1908). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1014932 on 2022-06-11
  3. ^ "Il salmerino gjàmurta, Salvelinus thingvallensis (Saemundsson, 1909)". www.ittiofauna.org. Archived from the original on 2021-11-22. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  4. ^ "Salvelinus thingvallensis (Saemundsson, 1908)". www.gbif.org. Archived from the original on 2022-01-04. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  5. ^ "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". Archived from the original on 2021-06-13. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  6. ^ "Salvelinus thingvallensis". www.fishbase.de. Archived from the original on 2022-01-04. Retrieved 2022-06-05.