- Biwa trout
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Biwa trout 
Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Salmoniformes Family: Salmonidae Genus: Oncorhynchus Species: O. masou Subspecies: O. m. rhodurus Trinomial name Oncorhynchus masou rhodurus
Jordan & McGregor, 1925The Biwa trout or Biwa salmon, Oncorhynchus masou rhodurus, is an anadromous salmonid fish of the Pacific salmon genus Oncorhynchus. It is one of several fish called trout, but taxonomically it is a subspecies of the more widespread cherry salmon of western Pacific. It is enzootic to Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, and is found only in the waters of northern Lake Biwa.
The Biwa trout feeds on plankton, aquatic insects, freshwater prawns, worms, ayu and other small fishes and, sometimes, small mammals. Biwa trout represents a unique food fish for the Shiga prefecture. The fish has a reputation as being very difficult to catch by angling.
Appearance
Adult Biwa trout usually range from 40 to 50 cm in length and 1.5 to 2.5 kg in weight although large specimens can be up to 70 cm long and 5.0 kg in weight.
Use as food
Biwa trout and its caviar are considered a delicacy. Usual ways to prepare the trout is as sashimi, by grilling with salt, in meuniere, or by smoking, deep-frying or simmering, etc.
External links
- Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2010). Oncorhynchus rhodurus in FishBase. April 2010 version.
- Biwa trout information from the National Institute for ES of Japan (Japanese)
- Fishing info. of Biwa trout (Japanese - at Archive.org)
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