Adriatic trout

Taxobox
name = Adriatic trout


status = EN
status_ref =IUCN2006|assessors=Crivelli, A.J.|year=2005|id=19862|title=Salmothymus obtusirostris|downloaded=2007 May 17]
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Salmoniformes
familia = Salmonidae
genus = "Salmo"
species = "S. obtusirostris"
binomial = "Salmo obtusirostris"
binomial_authority = (Heckel, 1851)
subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
subdivision = "S. o. oxyrhynchus"
"S. o. salonitana"
"S. o. krkensis"
"S. o. zetensis"

The Adriatic trout ("Salmo obtusirostris") is a species of fish, first described by Johann Jakob Heckel in 1851. Other common names are softmouth trout and soft muzzled trout.cite web|url=http://www.balkan-trout.com/studied_taxa_1_softmouth.htm|title=Softmouth trout|publisher=Balkan Trout Restoration Group|accessdate=2007-05-17]

This species spawns in the spring and is an obligatory freshwater fish. They are an important commercial fishery species and also a game fish.FishBase species|genus=Salmo|species=obtusirostris|year=2007|month=May] The scientific name has also changed several times through history; synonyms include "Thymallus microlepis", "Salmothymus obtusirostris" and "Salar obtusirostris". Four subspecies are known, "Salmo obtusirostris oxyrhynchus" (Neretva and its tributaries Buna in Bosnia Herzegovina and Vrljika in Croatia), "Salmo obtusirostris salonitana" (Jadro River, Croatia), "Salmo obtusirostris krkensis" (Krka (Croatia)) and "Salmo obtusirostris zetensis" (Zeta River, Montenegro).

Appearance and anatomy

The most obvious characteristic of the Adriatic trout is an elongated snout. It also has a small and flashy mouth, relatively large scales and high body depth. Color of the body varies between subspecies, mostly it is green with red and black dots. No vertical stripes that are common in brown trout of the Adriatic Sea drainages can be found.

Conservation

Adriatic trout are threatened by hybridization with introduced species and overfishing. In the river Neretva, natural hybrids (named "kosor" by locals) between Adriatic and brown trout can be found, hybridization was also confirmed experimentally (Kosorić & Vuković. 1969). Adriatic trout lives prefers rivers with more water and wide riverbed. Adriatic and brown trout have different spawning times that overlap only slightly every few years which is why natural hybridization is not widespread and both species live sympatrically in the same rivers.

References