The freshwater whitefish are fishes of the

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classifica ...

Coregoninae, which contains whitefishes (both freshwater and

anadromous Fish migration is mass relocation by fish from one area or body of water to another. Many types of fish migrate on a regular basis, on time scales ranging from daily to annually or longer, and over distances ranging from a few metres to thousa ...

) and

ciscoes The ciscoes (or ''ciscos'') are salmonid fish that differ from other members of the genus in having upper and lower jaws of approximately equal length and high gill raker counts. These species have been the focus of much study recently, as resea ...

, and is one of three subfamilies in the salmon family Salmonidae. Apart from the subfamily Coregoninae, the family Salmonidae includes the salmon, trout, and char species of the subfamily Salmoninae, and grayling species of the subfamily

Thymallinae ''Thymallus'' is a genus of freshwater fish in the salmon family Salmonidae; it is the only genus of subfamily Thymallinae. The type species is '' Thymallus thymallus,'' the grayling. The species in the genus are generically called graylings, but ...

. Freshwater whitefish are distributed mainly in relatively cool waters throughout the northern parts of the Northern Hemisphere. The Coregoninae subfamily consists of three nominal

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...

: *''

Coregonus ''Coregonus'' is a diverse genus of fish in the salmon family ( Salmonidae). The ''Coregonus'' species are known as whitefishes. The genus contains at least 68 described extant taxa, but the true number of species is a matter of debate. The typ ...

'' Linnaeus,

1758 Events January–March * January 1 – Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus (Carl von Linné) publishes in Stockholm the first volume (''Animalia'') of the 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae'', the starting point of modern zoologi ...

– whitefishes and ciscoes, which according to some authors number more than 60 species. There are differing opinions on the classification of some species within the genus and the overall number of species. Some species in Arctic regions of Asia and North America forage in marine waters. *'' Prosopium'' Jordan, 1878 – round whitefishes, which includes six species, three of which occur only in a single lake. *'' Stenodus''

Richardson Richardson may refer to: People * Richardson (surname), an English and Scottish surname * Richardson Gang, a London crime gang in the 1960s * Richardson Dilworth, Mayor of Philadelphia (1956-1962) Places Australia * Richardson, Australian Capi ...

, 1836 – inconnus, which includes two species, sometimes considered a single species with two subspecies. Phylogenetically, ''Stenodus'' is not distinct from ''Coregonus''.

Niche

In their ecosystems, whitefish tend to be some of the largest fish and occupy niches as benthic predators. The recent invasion of several invasive species, including the sea lamprey and zebra mussels, has begun to pose a threat to the whitefish population by disrupting historic ecological relationships and prey distribution. This has been exacerbated by other changes to their habitat such as changes in land use, climate change, and the introduction of outside nutrients through runoff.

Whitefish as food

Freshwater whitefish is known for its mild flavor and high omega-3 fatty acid content. It is generally favored by those who dislike stronger fishy taste and is a common choice for fish fries. Lake whitefish is one of the most commonly consumed varieties of freshwater whitefish. It is especially popular in the

Great Lakes region The Great Lakes region of North America is a binational Canadian–American region that includes portions of the eight U.S. states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin along with the Canadian p ...

, where it can frequently be found, usually grilled or fried, as a popular offering in many restaurants. Smoked whitefish is locally produced as well. Many freshwater whitefish species have also made up an important component of the traditional diets of many indigenous people who have historically inhabited its range. Other varieties of smoked freshwater whitefish are sold in

delicatessen Traditionally, a delicatessen or deli is a retail establishment that sells a selection of fine, exotic, or foreign prepared foods. Delicatessen originated in Germany (original: ) during the 18th century and spread to the United States in the m ...

s and eaten as part of

Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine is an assortment of cooking traditions that was developed by the Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern, Central, Western, Northern, and Southern Europe, and their descendants, particularly in the United States and other Western coun ...

, either filleted or made into whitefish salad.

Use by indigenous peoples

Lake whitefish, adikameg in

Ojibwe The Ojibwe, Ojibwa, Chippewa, or Saulteaux are an Anishinaabe people in what is currently southern Canada, the northern Midwestern United States, and Northern Plains. According to the U.S. census, in the United States Ojibwe people are one of ...

, has historically been a staple food for the

Anishinaabe The Anishinaabeg (adjectival: Anishinaabe) are a group of culturally related Indigenous peoples present in the Great Lakes region of Canada and the United States. They include the Ojibwe (including Saulteaux and Oji-Cree), Odawa, Potawa ...

, a diverse group of tribes native to the North American Midwest. In recent years, following several legal battles which restored the ability of native peoples to exercise their right to hunt and gather, white fish has become a major resource for those communities. Native Alaskan communities also gather whitefish, specifically the inconnu (or sheefish), as a subsistence food.

Evolution due to human interaction

There are a multitude of different species of freshwater whitefish, some are more valued economically than others. Fishing for markets is not uncommon for species such as '' Coregonus widegreni'' and ''

Coregonus lavaretus ''Coregonus lavaretus'' is a species of freshwater whitefish, in the family Salmonidae. It is the type species of its genus '' Coregonus''. There are widely different concepts about the delimitation of the species ''Coregonus lavaretus'' and a ...

''. At the time, there was an increase in younger groups of ''C. widegreni'' because when fishing, humans only wanted the larger fish which ended up being the oldest.

References

External links

* Salmonidae Holarctic fauna {{Salmoniformes-stub