Schizothorax argentatus
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| Schizothorax argentatus | ||||||||||||
| Kessler , 1874 |
Schizothorax argentatus ( Russian Илийская маринка , Ilijskaja Marinka; syn. Racoma argentata , Schizothorax kolpakowskii or Schizothorax orientalis ) is an endemic species of carp from Central Asia .
description
The Ilijskaja Marinka is barbel-like and has a dark to brown-green color. It is usually 40 centimeters long, in exceptional cases also much larger. The largest specimens weighing 10 kilograms were caught in Lake Balkhash or Ili. There were also reports of specimens weighing 12 kilograms and more, with lengths of up to 100 centimeters and a maximum lifespan of 17 to 19 years.
distribution
Schizothorax argentatus is endemic to Lake Balkhash , the Ili River in Kazakhstan and the Ala-Kul Lake in Kyrgyzstan . Also in Suiding, Emin, and Huocheng Counties of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China .
Way of life
Little is known about the way of life of the Ilijskaja Marinka. Sexually mature animals spawn on a stone or gravel bottom. The fish eggs are highly toxic in the untreated state. It is prey of predatory carp fish such as B. Aspiolucius esocinus .
Endangerment status
Schizothorax argentatus is classified in Category I of the highly endangered animal species. This fish species has probably already been extinct in Lake Balkhash and in the Ili. The main reasons are uncontrolled overfishing , fish poaching and the introduction of foreign European fish species such as pikeperch , pike and catfish . In the Ili, the population of Schizothorax argentatus was severely affected by changes in the current speed and water levels. Ichthyologists have begun artificial attempts to reproduce the Ilijskaja Marinka and have already been able to produce hybrids.
Web links
- Schizothorax argentatus on Fishbase.org (English)
- Sketches of Schizothorax argentatus file link
