Salmo marmoratus

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Salmo marmoratus
Marble trout from zadlascica.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Genus: Salmo
Species:
S. marmoratus
Binomial name
Salmo marmoratus
G. Cuvier, 1829
Areale salmo marmo.png

Salmo marmoratus, the marble trout, is a species of freshwater fish in the family Salmonidae. It is characterized by a distinctive marbled color pattern and high growth capacity. The marble trout is found in only a handful of drainages and rivers of the Adriatic basin in (going from north to south) Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, while in Albania, the species is considered most likely extirpated.

Contents

Distribution

In Italy, marble trout inhabits left tributaries of the upper northwestern reaches of the Po River, and Italian northeastern sub-Alpine region's direct Adriatic watersheds, namely the Adige, the Brenta, the Piave, the Tagliamento, and the Livenza; in shared Slovenia and Italy drainage of the Soča with Natisone; in shared Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia drainage of the Neretva river, and in shared Montenegro and Albania drainage of the Morača with Zeta river, and the tributary Cem (Cijevna). [2] While once present in the Drin river basin in Albania, with White Drin in Kosovo and Black Drin in North Macedonia and Albania (as well as the Zalli i Bulqizes and the Okshtuni tributaries), and the Aoos river basin in Albania and Greece (as well as the Sarantaporos and the Drino tributaries), the fish is almost certainly extirpated there. [3] [4] [5]

Appearance, biology, and ecology

Marble Trout-Adige River.jpg

The marble trout has a long, cylindrical body, slightly compressed laterally, with a large head (22–25% of the body length), which is why it is also known as glavatica (glava = head) in Bosnian. The most obvious characteristic of the marble trout is its marble pattern. The intensity of colour varies considerably upon the surroundings. Some marble trout have red spots that merge with the rest of the pigment, always only along the lateral line. [6]

Its typical size is 30–70 cm (12–28 in). The largest specimen in Slovenia was a 117 cm (46 in), 24 kg (52 lb 15 oz) female (found dead), [7] largest living specimen caught was 120 cm (47 in) and 22.5 kg (49 lb 10 oz). [8] Individuals weighing up to 30 kg (66 lb) have been reported. [6] The largest specimens were found in Bosnia and Herzegovina, inhabiting the Neretva River from below town of Konjic downstream to town of Čapljina, mostly in canyon section from town of Jablanica to city of Mostar, and later after construction of Jablanica Dam on the Neretva River in Jablaničko Lake. [9] Trout become sexually mature at the age 3+ years (males) and 4+ years (females), and they spawn during November and December.

The marble trout is piscivorous, feed mainly on smaller fish and benthic invertebrates.

Adige River in Vallagarina AdigeinVallagarina.jpg
Adige River in Vallagarina

Its natural habitat is rivers with a summer temperature of 15 °C (59 °F). It suffers numerous threats to its existence throughout its range, these include hybridisation with foreign trout species stocked for angling, water extraction, and pollution. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, its main threats are habitat loss (habitat destruction) due to construction of five large dams on the Neretva River and plans for construction of several new dams on the upper course of the Neretva, water pollution, overfishing (sportfishing, food, including poaching), and hybridisation with introduced species of trout.

An anadromous form Salmo marmoratus f. marinus has been proposed, that would have a biological adaptation to high salinity waters. [10] The capture of a 955 mm (37.6 in), 10,220 g (22 lb 8 oz) specimen from the Eastern Adriatic Sea off Igrane by a commercial spearfisher supports this hypothesis. [11]

All eight remaining genetically pure marble trout populations were found in remote streams of the River Soča basin. [12] From these populations the Tolmin Angler's Society launched a reintroduction programme. [13]

Marmorated trout

Adding to the confusion of salmonid taxonomy, other trout have marble patterns beside S. marmoratus. One is trout from the river Otra, Norway. A certain percentage of brown trout (Salmo trutta) from that river have a marble pattern. In all other aspects, these trout are identical to the nonmarble brown trout from the same river. This is an example of intrapopulational polymorphism. [14] [1]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soča</span> Slovenian-Italian river

Soča or Isonzo is a 138-kilometre (86 mi) long river that flows through western Slovenia and northeastern Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neretva</span> River in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia

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<i>Salmo obtusirostris</i> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ohrid trout</span> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westslope cutthroat trout</span> Species and nominate of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jablaničko lake</span> Reservoir in North Herzegovina

Jablaničko Lake is a large artificially formed lake on the Neretva River, right below Konjic where the Neretva expands into a wide valley. The river provided much fertile, agricultural land there before the lake flooded most of it. The lake was created in 1953 after the construction of Jablanica Dam near Jablanica in central Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Mexican golden trout is a species of fish in the family Salmonidae. The species is endemic to high-elevation headwaters of the Fuerte River, Sinaloa River, and Culiacán River drainages in the Sierra Madre Occidental in Mexico.

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<i>Salmo dentex</i> Species of fish

Salmo dentex is a variety of trout, a freshwater fish in the family Salmonidae, found in the western Balkans. Until recently the identity, biological distinctness and species status of the dentex trout were not properly clarified, but genetic data now suggest it is not a monophyletic unit that could be distinguished from other salmonids as a separate species.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idrijca</span> River in Slovenia

The Idrijca is a river flowing through the Idrija Hills and Cerkno Hills in Slovenia. It is 60 kilometres (37 mi) long. It rises near Vojsko, flows towards northeast and after passing through Idrija turns to the northwest. After passing through Spodnja Idrija and Cerkno it joins the Soča in Most na Soči. It has a pluvio-nival regime and belongs to the Adriatic Sea Basin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Konjic</span> City in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Konjic is a city located in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of two entities that make up Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in northern Herzegovina, around 60 kilometres (37 mi) southwest of Sarajevo, in a mountainous, heavily wooded area, and is 268 m (879 ft) above sea level. The municipality extends on both sides of the Neretva River. According to the 2013 census, the city of Konjic has a population of 10,732 inhabitants, whereas the municipality has 25,148.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rakitnica (Neretva)</span> River in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krupa (Neretva)</span> River in Čapljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Krupa river is a left tributary of the river Neretva and the main water current of Hutovo Blato, which leads the waters from Gornje Blato and Svitavsko Lake into the Neretva river near Dračevo. The length of Krupa is 9 km with an average depth of 5 meters. The Krupa is an extension and outlet of Deransko Lake. Also, the Krupa is a unique river in Europe, because the river flows both ways. It flows normally from the source to the mouth and from the mouth to the source. This happens when, due to high water levels and large quantities of water, the Neretva pushes the Krupa river in the opposite direction. The river has rich biodiversity, with numerous fish species endemic to the Neretva basin inhabiting Krupa and its lakes. It is observed that important Salmo marmoratus, known under its vernacular name as glavatica and/or gonjavac, and endemic to the handful of rivers of the Adriatic watershed, enters these waters to spawn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glavatičevo</span> Village in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Neretva</span> Region around the upper course of the Neretva river in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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References

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  12. Fumagalli L; Snoj A; Jesenšek D; Balloux F; Jug T; Duron O; Brossier F; Crivelli AJ; Berrebi P (2002). "Extreme genetic differentiation among the remnant populations of marble trout (Salmo marmoratus) in Slovenia" (PDF). Mol. Ecol. 11 (12): 2711–2716. Bibcode:2002MolEc..11.2711F. doi:10.1046/j.1365-294X.2002.01648.x. PMID   12453253. S2CID   23810662.
  13. "Fish farming". Angling Club of Tolmin. Archived from the original on 31 August 2018.
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