Salmo ischchan, Kessler, 1877

Salmo ischchan View in CoL View Figure

Common name. Sevan trout.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Salmo in Caspian basin by: ○ flank with small or middle-sized black spots, smaller than 10 mm in diameter in individuals larger than 300 mm SL / ○ flank silvery, without orange spots / ○ parr marks present up to about 100 mm SL. Size up to 760 mm SL and 15 kg.

Distribution View Figure . Armenia: Lake Sevan.

Habitat. Lacustrine, spawned in lake, in gravel, close to springs and in mouth of inflowing streams.

Biology. Spawned in autumn–early winter. Fed mainly on benthic gammarid crustaceans.

Conservation status. Extinct.

Remarks. The name S. danilewskii has been used for small individuals feeding on gammarids and plankton. Salmo danilewskii is a synonym, and these fish were most likely small individuals of S. ischchan .

Further reading. Levin et al. 2022 (Sevan trout).