Softmouth trout facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Softmouth trout |
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| Softmouth from the Upper Neretva | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Salmo
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| Species: |
obtusirostris
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| Subspecies | |
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The softmouth trout (scientific name: Salmo obtusirostris) is a special kind of fish. It lives only in a few rivers that flow into the Adriatic Sea. These rivers are found in the Western Balkans region of southeastern Europe. You can find this fish in countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Montenegro. It is also known as the Adriatic trout or Adriatic salmon.
This fish is a type of salmonid, which means it is related to salmon and regular trout. It lays its eggs in early spring. Softmouth trout always live in fresh water and never go into the sea. People in the region often like to catch this fish for sport.
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Where the Softmouth Trout Lives
The softmouth trout naturally lives in four main river systems. These rivers flow into the Adriatic Sea in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. The rivers are the Neretva-Vrljika system, the Jadro, and the Morača-Zeta system. It might have also lived in the Krka river around Knin, but it is probably gone from there now.
Around the 1960s, some softmouth trout were moved from the Jadro river to the nearby Žrnovnica river. Both of these are small rivers near Split.
Different Types of Softmouth Trout
Scientists sometimes divide the softmouth trout into different groups called subspecies. These groups are slightly different depending on where they live:
- Salmo obtusirostris oxyrhynchus: This type lives in the Neretva river and its smaller rivers. These include the Buna, Bunica, Bregava, and Trebižat rivers. It also lives in the Rama river (before a dam was built). This subspecies is found in both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.
- Salmo obtusirostris salonitana: This type lives in the Jadro River in Croatia. It was also moved to the Žrnovnica River in the 1960s.
- Salmo obtusirostris krkensis: This type lived in the Krka river in Croatia. It only lived in about one kilometer of the river's beginning. Sadly, it is most likely extinct now.
- Salmo obtusirostris zetensis: This type lives in the Zeta River and the Morača River in Montenegro.
What the Softmouth Trout Looks Like
The softmouth trout has a few special features. Its most noticeable part is its long nose. It also has a small, soft mouth and scales that are quite large. Its body is also quite tall.
The color of the fish can be different depending on the subspecies. It is usually green with red and black spots. Unlike some other trout in the Adriatic area, it does not have vertical stripes on its body.
Protecting the Softmouth Trout
The softmouth trout is facing several dangers. These include too many dams being built on rivers. Dams can block the fish from moving freely. Another problem is that they sometimes mix with other types of fish that are not native to the area. This mixing can create new fish that are not pure softmouth trout.
Also, too much fishing can harm their numbers. In the Neretva river, softmouth trout sometimes naturally mix with brown trout. Locals call these mixed fish kosor. Even though they can mix, it does not happen very often. This is because softmouth trout and brown trout lay their eggs at different times of the year. This allows both types of fish to live in the same rivers without too much mixing.
