Humpback whitefish Сoregonus lavaretus pidschian (gmelin, 1788) of the Khatanga river basin

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a morphological and ecological study of three sympatric forms of the Humpback whitefish from the Khatanga River basin, Taimyr Peninsula, Krasnoyarsk krai territory. Statistically significant differences in plastic and meristic features between all compared formswere revealed.The most significant values of meristic features were found by the number of gill rakers (between riverine form and lacustrine-riverine form tₛₜ = 3.55), riverine form and lacustrine form (tₛₜ = 8.92), lacustrine-riverineform and lacustrine form (tₛₜ = 6.72). Significant differences were found in the number of scales in the lateral line when comparing riverine and lacustrine-riverine forms (tₛₜ = 3.16), riverine and lacustrine forms (tₛₜ = 2.85). Significant differences were noted in the plastic characters between riverine and lacustrineforms of Humpback whitefish: in the length of the head (between riverine and lacustrine-riverinetst = 5.49, riverine and lacustrinetst = 5.49); by antedorsal distance: riverine and lacustrine-riverine (tₛₜ = 2.67), riverine and lacustrine (tₛₜ = 4.40); in eye diameter between lacustrine-riverine and lacustrine (tₛₜ = 6.89), riverine and lacustrine (tₛₜ = 9.42).A comparison of the morphological features of lacustrine, lacustrine-riverine and riverine forms of whitefish in the Khatanga River basin with those forms from other water bodies in northern Siberia is carried out.Differences in meristic and plastic features are shown.The age range of riverine whitefish in catches is represented by 9 age groups (4+ - 12+), lacustrineriverine - 13 (6+ - 18+), lacustrine - 4 (13+ - 17+).The distribution and migration of allHumpback whitefish forms in the river basin are presented on the basis of our own observations and literary sources.The nutrition of individual forms has been studied, the basis of the Humpback whitefish diet is made up of benthic organisms: caddisflies, chironomids, mollusks and amphipods. English version of the article is available at URL: https://panor.ru/articles/siberian-whitefish-coregonus-lavaretus-pidschian-gmelin-1788-khatanga-river-basin/77293.html