Shortnose cisco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shortnose cisco |
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The shortnose cisco (Coregonus reighardi) is a type of fish that lives in freshwater in North America. It belongs to the salmon family called Salmonidae. This fish is one of many similar types known as ciscoes.
The shortnose cisco used to live in the Great Lakes region of Canada and the United States. However, its numbers have been dropping a lot, and it has disappeared from many places where it once lived. The last time this fish was seen was in Georgian Bay, which is part of Lake Huron in Canada. Scientists think that the decline of this fish might be connected to the arrival of the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in the Great Lakes. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the shortnose cisco as "critically endangered", which means it's very close to disappearing forever, or it might even be extinct.
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About the Shortnose Cisco
The shortnose cisco can grow up to 36 centimeters (about 14 inches) long and weigh around 540 grams (about 1 pound 3 ounces). You can tell it apart from other whitefishes by a few special features. It has a thicker body that looks almost round if you cut it in half. It also has a short head, which is how it got its name, and small eyes.
What We Know About Its Life
Like many other Coregonus fish species, not a lot is known about the shortnose cisco. Scientists don't know much about how it breeds or its full life cycle. However, they do know that it lays its eggs in the spring at the bottom of lakes. The oldest shortnose cisco ever found was eight years old.
This fish eats small creatures like crustaceans (like tiny shrimp), molluscs (like snails), and zooplankton (tiny animals that float in the water).
Where It Lived and Why It's Disappearing
The shortnose cisco is native to the Great Lakes. It used to live in Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and Lake Ontario in both Canada and the United States.
The IUCN believes the shortnose cisco is "Critically Endangered." This is because its population has dropped very quickly due to problems in its environment. However, some groups, like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Ministry of Natural Resources in Ontario, Canada, think the fish is already extinct. This is because no one has seen or collected a shortnose cisco since 1985.
The last time this fish was definitely seen was:
- In Lake Ontario: 1964
- In Lake Michigan: 1974
- In Georgian Bay (part of Lake Huron): 1985
Two main reasons are thought to have caused the huge drop in their numbers:
- Predation by the alien sea lamprey: The sea lamprey is a fish that came from other places and preys on the shortnose cisco.
- Commercial overfishing: Too many shortnose ciscoes were caught by people fishing for money.
These two factors together likely led to the fish's drastic reduction and possible disappearance.
See also
In Spanish: Coregonus reighardi para niños
