Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Order Salmoniformes | |
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Similar Hucho, Salvethymus svetovidovi, Salmoninae, Kirikuchi char | ||
Tibet yangtze river headwaters hucho bleekeri kimura corpse found site
Hucho bleekeri, or the Sichuan taimen, is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family (Salmonidae), endemic to the Yangtze basin in China. Its typical habitat is mountain streams and small rivers and it is found in the catchment areas of the Dadu River in Sichuan and Qinghai Provinces, and the Hanjiang River. It is a grey fish with a silvery belly growing to a length of 72 cm (2 ft 4 in). Populations of this fish are declining, it principally being threatened by habitat loss and illegal fishing, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as "critically endangered".
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Tibet yangtze river headwaters hucho bleekeri spawning frequency
Description
Individuals are usually dark gray on the back with a silvery white underside and small cross-shaped spots scattered on the body and gill cover. Adults grow up to 72 cm (2 ft 4 in) in length.
Distribution and habitats
Sichuan taimen are endemic to the Yangtze basin in China. They are found in the upper tributaries of the Yangtze River in Sichuan Province, the upper and middle reaches of the Dadu River in Sichuan and Qinghai Provinces, and the upper reaches of the Hanjiang River south of the Qin Mountains in Shaanxi Province. It dwells predominantly in fast-flowing streams with sandy and gravel substrates. The species prefers mountain brooks at 700–3,300 m (2,300–10,800 ft) meters above sea level with high dissolved oxygen (>5 mg/l) and a low water temperature (less than 15 °C or 59 °F).
Diet
Juveniles feed mostly on zooplankton and insects, while adults are largely piscivorous.
Threats
According to the IUCN, the Sichuan taimen is threatened mostly by habitat loss from the construction of hydropower stations, erosion of soil due to deforestation, road construction, and sand excavation. Despite legal protections, the species is also threatened by illegal fishing. Recent studies have estimated the species has endured a 50-80% decline in population over the past three generations, and the decline is expected to continue. Only an estimated 2,000-2,500 mature individuals survive.