Stenodus leucichthys facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stenodus leucichthys |
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The Stenodus leucichthys is a special type of freshwater whitefish. It belongs to the Salmonidae family, which also includes salmon and trout. This fish is sometimes called the Caspian whitefish. It naturally lived only in the area around the Caspian Sea. Sadly, it is now considered extinct in the wild. This means it no longer lives freely in nature. However, some of these fish still exist in special breeding programs.
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What is the Caspian Whitefish?
This fish has a large mouth. Its lower jaw sticks out a bit. It also has a tall, pointed dorsal fin on its back. The Caspian whitefish is usually silver. Its back can be green, blue, or brown. Its meat is white and flaky. It is also a bit oily.
How Big Does it Get?
An adult Caspian whitefish can grow quite large. It usually weighs between 14 and 25 kilograms (about 30 to 55 pounds). That's like carrying a lot of school books!
What Does it Eat?
When they are very young, these fish eat tiny living things called plankton. Plankton are like microscopic plants and animals floating in the water. After their first year, they change their diet. They become predators. This means they hunt and eat smaller fish.
Where Did the Caspian Whitefish Live?
The Caspian whitefish used to live in several big rivers. These rivers flowed into the Caspian Sea. Some of the main rivers were the Volga, Ural, and Terek rivers. These fish would swim very long distances. They would travel up to 3,000 kilometers (about 1,860 miles) upstream. They did this in the spring. They were going to special places to lay their eggs. These places are called spawning grounds.
Why is the Caspian Whitefish Endangered?
Over time, many dams were built on these rivers. These dams also created large hydropower reservoirs. Dams block the fish's path. They make it hard for the fish to swim upstream. This stopped the fish from reaching their spawning grounds. Because of this, the fish could not reproduce naturally.
How Are We Helping the Caspian Whitefish?
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) now says this fish is extinct in the wild. This is a very serious status. But there is still hope! Some of these fish are kept in special places. These places are called hatcheries. In hatcheries, scientists help the fish to breed. They also raise young fish. Sometimes, these young fish are released into rivers. This helps to keep the species alive.
