Atlantic whitefish  (Coregonus huntsmani)

Description

A member of the salmon and trout family (Salmonidae), the Atlantic whitefish has a typical salmon-like appearance, but can be distinguished from other species by its larger body scales (2). The colouration is uniform silver on the sides, becoming silvery-white on the belly, while the back is dark bluish black or dark green (2). The caudal fin is deeply forked, and a small, fleshy fin, termed an ‘adipose fin’, is located between the dusky-coloured dorsal and caudal fins (2) (3). The body is elongated, with a short head in which the jaws are located at the end of the snout rather than on the underside of the head (3). Prior to the decline of the Atlantic whitefish from much of its range, larger bodied anadromous specimens occurred, which reached lengths of up to 50 centimetres. Today’s surviving landlocked, freshwater populations are smaller-bodied, only reaching between 20 and 25 centimetres in length (2).

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