Overview
Inconnu is a French name meaning “unknown.” The inconnu belongs to the salmon subfamily Coregoninae, which includes the whitefishes and ciscoes. Its general body shape is very similar to that of char or whitefish, but the head is relatively long, pointed, and depressed on the top. Its mouth is large, and the lower jaw clearly projects outward beyond the upper jaw. The maxillary, or upper jaw bone, extends back at least as far as the middle of the eye. Its small, fine teeth are found on the anterior part of the lower jaw, on the tongue, the premaxillaries, the head of the maxillaries (upper jaw bones), the vomer, and on the palatines (bones of the roof of the mouth). The tail is distinctly forked.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Perciformes
- Family
- Salmonidae
- Genus
- Stenodus
- Species
- leucichthys
Habitat
Beloribitsa primarily inhabit large, cold rivers and deep lakes in subarctic regions, such as the Yukon and Mackenzie Rivers in North America, and the Volga and Ural drainages in Eurasia. They prefer deep, oxygen-rich waters with strong currents and gravel substrates for spawning. These fish are adapted to freshwater environments but historically migrated between rivers and lakes.
Diet
Juvenile Beloribitsa feed on plankton, insects, and small invertebrates, while adults primarily consume other fish such as ciscoes and whitefish. They are opportunistic predators, hunting in schools or individually, and feed most actively during dawn and dusk in deeper waters. Their feeding behavior involves swift pursuits in open water.
Behavior
Beloribitsa are generally solitary but form schools during migration or feeding. They are active predators, often residing in deep waters during the day and becoming more surface-oriented at night, with seasonal migrations for spawning. These fish exhibit territorial behavior around spawning grounds and are known for their strong swimming capabilities in fast currents.
Fishing
The only predatory member of the whitefish group in Northern America, it is highly favored as a sport fish. Its silvery coloring and tendency to leap high out of the water when hooked have earned it the name “Eskimo tarpon” As a food fish opinion is mixed. It is certainly edible, but the somewhat oily flesh tastes best when smoked.
Conservation Status
Listed as EXTINCT IN THE WILD by IUCN.