Kingdom Animalia Class Actinopterygii Family Salmonidae Scientific name Salmo ezenami | Phylum Chordata Order Salmoniformes Genus Salmo Rank Species | |
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Similar Salmo balcanicus, Salmo rhodanensis, Salmo schiefermuelleri, Salmo fibreni, Salmo peristericus | ||
Salmo ezenami is a critically endangered freshwater salmonid fish, endemic to Lake Kezenoi-Am (Lake Eizenam) in Northern Caucasus.
The only native occurrence, in Lake Kezenoi-Am in Chechnya at the border of Dagestan, is in a cold alpine lake (area 2.4 km², maximum depth 74 m, 1870 m altitude). In addition, the species has been introduced to another lake in Dagestan, Lake Mochokh, probably successfully.
Salmo ezenami used to be the only fish species in Lake Kezenoi-Am. However, two other species, the European chub and Gobio holurus have been introduced, and present a threat by eating the fry of Salmo.
Salmo ezenami spawns in the lake, close to underwater springs. Adult fish also probably migrate to tributaries. There are separate small-sized (adults 160–260 mm) and large-sized forms (380–1130 mm). Young prey on gammarids and chironomids; adults also eat molluscs and fishes, after the introduction of nonnative species.