- Oncorhynchus nerka kawamurae
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Black kokanee Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Subclass: Neopterygii Infraclass: Teleostei Order: Salmoniformes Family: Salmonidae Genus: Oncorhynchus Species: O. nerka Subspecies: O. n. kawamurae The black kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka kawamurae), or kunimasu in Japanese, is a Japanese salmon subspecies which scientists had thought had gone extinct in 1940, but was discovered to still have a living population in 2010.[1]
The fish was thought to have gone extinct when a hydroelectric project made Lake Tazawa, its native lake, more acidic in 1940. Prior to that, 100,000 eggs were thought to have been transferred to Lake Saiko, which is located about 310 miles (500 kilometers) south of Lake Tazawa, but this attempt to save the fish had been thought to have been unsuccessful. However, in 2010, Tetsuji Nakabo, a professor at Kyoto University, said that his team of researchers had found living members of the subspecies in Saiko Lake.[1]
The fish is dark olive with black spots on its back, and grows to approximately one foot (30 centimeters) in length.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Scientist says he found Japan fish thought extinct, Associated Press, December 15, 2010
Categories:- Cold water fish
- Oncorhynchus
- Fish of the Pacific Ocean
- Fish of Japan
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