Kiyi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kiyi |
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The kiyi (Coregonus kiyi) is a type of freshwater whitefish. It's a small fish that lives deep in the water. You can find kiyi only in the Great Lakes of North America.
Kiyi used to live in Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Ontario. But now, scientists think they only live in Lake Superior. In Lake Superior, they are still quite common. Kiyi are also known as "chubs," but they are not related to other fish called chubs.
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What is a Kiyi?
The kiyi is one of the smaller types of cisco fish. Adult kiyi are usually about 250 millimetres (9.8 in) long. This is about the length of a standard ruler. They weigh around 170 grams (6.0 oz), which is less than a can of soda. Some kiyi can grow a bit longer, over 280 millimetres (11 in).
Kiyi fish are shiny and look silvery-pink or purple. Their backs are darker, and their bellies are white. Sometimes, they have a dark spot on their lower jaw. They have a big head and large, noticeable eyes.
Kiyi Types
Scientists once thought there were two main types, or subspecies, of kiyi. One was called the Upper Great Lakes kiyi (Coregonus kiyi kiyi). This type lived in Lakes Superior, Huron, and Michigan. The other was the Lake Ontario kiyi (C. kiyi orientalis). This type was only found in Lake Ontario.
Sadly, the Lake Ontario kiyi has not been seen since the 1960s. It is now believed to be extinct. This means there are no more of them left alive. They disappeared because of too much fishing, other fish eating them, and new fish species moving into their home.
Kiyi Life and Habits
Kiyi fish like to live in very deep water. They are often found at depths greater than 80 metres (260 ft). In Lake Superior, kiyi are common even deeper, at about 180 metres (590 ft).
Female kiyi tend to grow larger and live longer than males. Females can live up to 10 years, while males usually live about 8 years. Kiyi are ready to have babies when they are 2 to 3 years old. They start reproducing when they are at least 132 millimetres (5.2 in) long in Lake Superior.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Kiyi lay their eggs in the autumn or early winter. They do this in deep water, usually between 106–165 metres (348–541 ft). Kiyi, like other ciscoes, have good and bad years for having babies. Some years, many young kiyi are born. Other years, not many survive.
Challenges for Kiyi
Even though kiyi are small, people used to fish for them a lot in the Great Lakes, especially in Lake Ontario. However, kiyi and other deepwater chubs have faced many problems.
One big problem is new species that have moved into the Great Lakes. These new fish either eat kiyi or compete with them for food. Some of these harmful species include the parasitic sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), the alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), and the rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax). These invaders have made it very hard for kiyi populations to survive, even with less fishing.
